Off the back of heartache in their pursuit at returning to the Bundesliga, Hamburger will kick off another 2. Bundesliga season as one of the favourites to win the division yet again as they travel to the Eintracht-Stadion where Eintracht Braunschweig awaits them.
Hope was swarming around the Volksparkstadion a few months back after they travelled to Berlin to meet with Hertha Berlin in a Bundesliga Relegation Play-Offs final.
🌱🥅🌱🥅🆚🥅🌱🥅🌱#nurderHSV #Training pic.twitter.com/fD2EAVs0PL— Hamburger SV (@HSV) July 15, 2022
🌱🥅🌱🥅🆚🥅🌱🥅🌱#nurderHSV #Training pic.twitter.com/fD2EAVs0PL
The second tier side were much the better team that day as they saw 57% of the ball and had 11 shots towards goal, but it was Ludovit Reis who stole the show for Hamburger with his second half goal.
Horst Hrubesch's men then rapidly became the favourites to replace Hertha in the Bundesliga for this upcoming season after such a fantastic performance in Berlin, however, the class and experience of the first tier side shone brightly in the second leg at the Volksparkstadion.
A goal in either half for Hertha meant Hamburger lost the two-legged affair and they now have to settle and prepare for yet another season in 2. Bundesliga.
The club did also finish five points adrift of league winners Schalke, as Hamburger won four fewer games and drew an almighty 12 times along their path of 34 games.
On the other hand, the former Bundesliga outfit did also lose only six games in the league, scoring 67 times and conceding 35 goals - this was the fewest goals conceded all campaign long in 2. Bundesliga.
As for Braunschweig, they are coming into this game off the back of defeating last season's Bundesliga high-flyers, Union Berlin, in a 1-0 win.
The Lions are also back in the second tier after spending last season in 3. Liga following relegation in 2020/21.
Braunschweig also made hard work of their promotion charge in the third tier with them only beating Kaiserslautern by one point as they finished second and 14 points behind the league winners, Magdeburg.
Nevertheless, with a recent win over Union and an impressive season last time out, confidence will be flowing throughout the Braunschweig dressing room.
The newly-promoted side did, however, win just 18 of the scheduled 36 games in 3. Liga, but with just 36 goals let in, they boasted of the second-best defensive record in the division.
Hamburger should, however, get off to a flying start here off the back of such a devastating result back in May. Forebet predicts a win for them here and for the game to see over 2.5 goals.