HSV competed well for much of the game but ended up with a 3-0 defeat against league leaders Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night. The euphoria, emerging after two wins at the start of the season that saw Hamburg top of the table for one night, has started to wane. Three defeats in succession has witnessed the team from the Hanseatic city slip down to eleventh place in the table. A position that would have been more than satisfactory at the end of last season and could indicate the possibility of a campaign without major worries – a situation HSV have sought for years.
Less than two weeks after the transfer window closed, HSV were forced to react. The reason: Injuries to Filip Kostic, Aaron Hunt and Nicolai Müller who were supposed to play together behind centre forward Bobby Wood in Markus Gisdol's ideal first eleven. Hamburg responded immediately by awarding a one-year deal to out-of-contract Sejad Salihovic. The former Hoffenheim player and renowned set piece specialist has been brought in to fill a gap in the HSV midfield. The key players in the squad are, in addition to Salihovic and Wood, the two former Germany internationals Lewis Holtby and André Hahn, whose return to the Hanseatic city after a seven-year absence was the marquee signing of the summer. At the back, the HSV coach Gisdol has great trust in central defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos who has now signed permanent terms after being on loan from Bayer 04 last season.
The loss of Kostic and Müller, whose pacey individual moves consistently posed a threat in the past, has hit the Hamburg attack hard. The last three matches have not only brought HSV just one point but they have also failed to score. Not a record that will pacify the unsettled atmosphere in the North German metropolis particularly after the season began with an unbelievable exit from the DFB Cup away to third division Osnabrück – The club have suffered from that background for several years and have been unable to improve the performances on the pitch to a sustainable level.
There is a question over the financial injections provided by patron Klaus-Michael Kühne: HSV are in the process of reorganising their structures and way of working. Away from continual changes in personnel to consistency and trust in the current squad and management. If that succeeds then the chances are good of leaving behind the permanent sporting crisis of the recent past, given the passion of the fans, the good infrastructure, attractive location and numerous impressive, potential partners.
If at all possible, the aim this term is to avoid the supporters having to worry about staying up right to the end of the season. In Markus Gisdol, HSV have a coach who is able to take on this challenging task with the necessary calm and experience in battling relegation. With the available quality of the squad, Hamburg should be able to hold onto their unique status as the only original member still in the Bundesliga in spite of the possibility of further turbulence in this campaign.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen has secured a new network partner in Extreme Networks GmbH. The leading provider of AI-powered network automation has agreed a five-year partnership with the Bundesliga club, running until 30 June 2031. As part of this, the club’s existing Wi-Fi 5 infrastructure will be replaced by more than 400 Wi-Fi 7 access points, which are specifically designed to meet the requirements of a stadium with a high user density. The aim is to enhance the fan experience while optimising operational processes and security.
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New signing Miguel Gutiérrez has made a good start at Leverkusen and has promptly earned a nomination for Player of the Month in his first few weeks in the Bundesliga. He has scored one goal and provided three assists in four league games. The Spanish left-back has also brought some impressive stats with him to Bayer 04. Issue #56 of the Werkself magazine has taken a look at these figures. ‘Facts & Fun’ with Miguel Gutiérrez.
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With seven points, Mainz 05 are currently joint seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Bayer 04. In today’s head-to-head clash (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself must be particularly wary of the clinical Mainz strike duo. For Leverkusen fans who have left it to the last minute, there are still a few tickets available from the matchday ticket office. Those following the Black and Reds from home, on the other hand, have a choice: RTL is broadcasting the match on free-to-air TV, and Werkself Radio is also offering the expert commentary of former Bayer 04 player Falko Götz. Today’s matchday news.
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Back from the international break: On Saturday 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to Mainz 05. Ahead of the clash at the MEWA ARENA against the side currently sixth in the table, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the team’s work during the extended international break. The Spaniard also commented, when asked, on a number of squad matters, including Ibrahim Maza.
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FSV Mainz 05 went into the international break on the back of an away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Currently sixth in the table, the Rheinhessen side – who have been impressive on the road – now aim to continue their good start to the Bundesliga campaign at home when they face the Werkself on Saturday, 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). In terms of squad selection, Urs Fischer once again has more options at his disposal. Up front, the Mainz coach is likely to continue relying on what is currently the league’s most successful strike partnership. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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