In a season where Borussia Dortmund were looking to finally unseat Bayern Munich for a third time in five years, the Schwarzgelben has not gotten off to the best start.
Borussia Dortmund vs. Hamburger SV: Time, TV Schedule, and Game Preview
Dortmund face an unexpected must-win match against an achilles heal in Hamburg
Dean Mouhtaropoulos
The one point they received in their last three matches was the only glimmer of hope from the mid table team. Now hosting a team like Hamburg, who scored their first goal of the season last week, is a must win match.
Jürgen Klopp has not been able to rely on his usual suspects, Marco Reus and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Mats Hummels is still just finding his feet, and he has to start Kevin Großkreutz in midfield with his other options shelved.
They are already 10 points behind Bayern, and if they do not convert a full three against Josef Zinnbauer’s reclamation project, Dortmund can kiss their title hopes goodbye.
Key Player: Shinji Kagawa
When he left Dortmund, he was a young player from the far east whose contributions to titles caught the eye of one of the best managers in football history. When he returned, he was an afterthought who could not see the light of day from several managers. Now he is beginning to rekindle the magic that put him on the map, which Klopp has sorely needed with injuries left and right. He will have to step up against a side that surely will squeeze his side out of the penalty area.
Key Matchup: Mats Hummels vs. Pierre-Michel Lasogga
Lasogga has not exactly impressed since becoming the hero in Hamburg’s relegation playoff victory. He has not made the runs his teammates need to give him the ball, and his shots have puttered into the goalkeepers arms or beyond the goal line. Even though his form is at second-tier levels, he is going up against a not fully fit Mats Hummels. This will be Lasogga’s best chance to get his Bundesliga started, and Hamburg will need him to overcome the German international in order for them to have a chance.
Dortmund Injuries and Suspensions
Out: Jakub Blaszczykowski (thigh), Ilkay Gündogan (back), Oliver Kirch (muscle tear), Henrikh Mkhitaryan (foot), Marco Reus (knee), Nuri Sahin (knee) In Doubt: Kehl (ankle)
Hamburg Injuries and Suspensions
Out: René Adler (knee), Maximilian Beister (knee), Julian Green (ribs), Ivo Ilicević (muscle problems), Slobodan Rajković (training) In Doubt: Nicolai Müller (muscle problems)
Dortmund is still without their starts, and though it has not hindered them in the Champions League, it has hindered their progression in the Bundesliga. Klopp has had to rely on new additions Ciro Immobile and Adrian Ramos to give Dortmund a respectable attack. Hamburg meanwhile could get a huge boost with the return of Marcel Jansen, who is sadly one of their best flank players. There is a chance that he supplants Zoltan Stieber in midfield rather than lining up in his usual defense.
Match Date/Time: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. local, 9:30 a.m. ET
Venue: Signa Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany
TV: MyGermanTV+ (USA), Sky Bundesliga 2 | HD (Germany)
Online: Sky Go (Germany)
See More:
