Hamburger SV cannot get out of the 2. Bundesliga. Since 2018, HSV have played in the 2. Bundesliga after being relegated for the first time.
Life has been difficult for Hamburger SV in the second division. There have been several almost-returns to the Bundesliga.
Full focus on Hamburg ⚒️#S04 | #HSVS04 pic.twitter.com/D5SmgXS1IC— FC Schalke 04 (@s04_en) July 25, 2023
Full focus on Hamburg ⚒️#S04 | #HSVS04 pic.twitter.com/D5SmgXS1IC
Last season, HSV finished third, qualifying for the relegation-promotion playoffs. The playoffs didn’t go well, as HSV were beaten 6-1 by Stuttgart over two legs.
On Friday night, Hamburger SV will kick off the new 2. Bundesliga season against recently relegated Schalke. Like HSV, Schalke are a fallen giant of German football.
Schalke finished 17th in the 18-team Bundesliga last season, with 31 points from 34 games.
The Blues recorded just seven wins. No team conceded more goals in the Bundesliga than Schalke (71).
In 2021-22, Hamburger SV and Schalke met twice in the 2. Bundesliga. HSV secured four points from six against Schalke that campaign.
Time Walter will oversee HSV once again this season. He joined the club in 2021 and led it to back-to-back promotion playoffs.
Walter favours an attacking 4-3-3 formation. HSV scored the most goals in the 2. Bundesliga last season (70).
Hamburger’s problem in 2022-23 was defeats. Their eight defeats were more than league-winner Heidenheim and second-place Darmstadt. HSV finished just one point behind both clubs.
Striker Robert Glatzel could get the start for HSV in attack. The club has added several players, but most have come from loan transfers.
Right-back Ignace van der Brempt arrived from RB Leipzig. The club also added midfielder Levin Oztunali from Union Berlin on a free transfer.
Hamburger sold the duo of Max Rohr and Filip Bilbija to 2. Bundesliga rival Paderborn. Several players are reported as injured ahead of the season’s start.
Up to six players could miss out due to injury problems. Meanwhile, defender Mario Vuskovic is banned from the game.
Despite Schalke being relegated at the end of last season, coach Thomas Reis will oversee the team to start the new season. Reis used a 4-2-3-1 formation after taking over in October 2022.
Several notable players left the club in the offseason, including Amine Harit, Rodrigo Zalazar, Can Bozdogan, Jordan Larsson, and Marius Bulter all departed.
Ron Schallenberg is the highest-profile player to join. The defensive midfielder arrived from Paderborn.
Former HSV striker Simon Terrode will lead the line for the Blues. Florian Flick will miss the match due to injury.
HSV should post an opening-day win against Schalke. The Red Shorts have a recent history of winning in the 2. Bundesliga and are playing at home. Hamburger SV should win 3-1.