Bundesliga Player Ratings | Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Hamburg | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund have gotten their 2026/27 Bundesliga campaign off to a winning start with a 2-0 home victory over visiting Hamburg. An especially impressive BVB side rushed out to a 2-0 lead and were able to preserve the shutout despite a hard-luck injury to Greek attacker Giannis Konstantelias and a late sending-off of Samuele Inacio. After a woeful first half, Merlin Polzin’s HSV were able to salvage a little pride with better play over the second 45 minutes.

Dortmund dominate the first half

The Westphalian hosts casually circulated the ball amid their ranks in the opening minutes, finally producing a shot in the 8th minute when Felix Nmecha fired an effort over the crossbar. One minute later, a crisp BVB passing sequence produced the opening goal. Guirassy and new summer arrival Konstantinos Karetsas combined quickly through the center. Guirassy collected the final ball on the half-right and coolly slotted home the 9th-minute 1-0 with a sublime finish into the opposite corner. Before the opening quarter-of-an-hour had elapsed, Karetsas and Nmecha had forced two more quality saves out of the HSV keeper.

The Hanseatic guests couldn’t muster up much in terms of a response. Strong BVB counter-pressing ensured that Polzin’s men were smothered off the ball immediately. Hamburg managed little apart from some hopeful upfield chucks. Dortmund lorded over 70 percent possession as the half-hour mark approached, also out-passing their opponents by a 2:1 ratio. Niko Kovac’s makeshift back three consisting of Daniel Svensson, Waldemar Anton, and Joane Gadou were able to kill a significant amount of time with unpressured bow-arc passing.

The match proceeded without much highlight-worthy for a time. Dortmund once again produced some quality chances after the half-hour mark passed. Guirassy saw an effort blocked in the 31st. A fine sequence involving Dortmund’s two Greek summer signings in the 33rd ended with Karetsas flashing over. Karetsas then found himself denied by a fantastic Heuer Fernandes foot save on a (slightly deflected) effort in the 41st. For a moment, it seemed as if Hamburg might snatch a flattering 1-1 halftime scoreline. The ever-present Beier – again looking exceptionally strong in his new left wingback role – cleared a HSV set-piece effort off the line in the 43rd. The supposed equalizer wouldn’t have counted anyway, however, as the offside flag was up.

Konstantelias ended up getting a well-deserved goal in first-half stoppage time. Beier set up the Greek international’s first Bundesliga goal. This time, Heuer Fernandes couldn’t react quickly enough to a deflection off teammate Sebastiaan Bornauw. Konstantelias earned the last bit of luck with an exquisite dribble and powerful finish. Dortmund supporters loudly cheered their energetic troops into the tunnel following a largely perfect first half that produced a fully justified 2-0 lead. The Westfalenstadion DJ even opted to play Greek folk music at halftime in commemoration.

BVB lively after the break

Hamburg continued to struggle after the change of ends. Some early forward traffic enabled the resurgent Albert Grønbaek to get a shot off five minutes after the restart. This was nonetheless overshadowed by yet another high-quality effort from Karetsas that Heuer Fernandes deftly saved. Unfortunately for Dortmund, one half of their celebrated Greek duo found himself unable to carry on shortly thereafter. Konstantelias awkwardly twisted his knee during a challenge and had to be subbed off in the 54th minute. Replacement Marcel Sabitzer wasn’t able to help BVB keep up the same rhythm and tempo. As a result, Dortmund’s offensive production tapered off.

Hamburg display some fight

Taking advantage of the shift, HSV tackled more aggressively and began to push their opponent back in the midfield duels. Daka might have done significantly better with a through-ball sent his way at the hour mark. The Zambian striker did do significantly better with a Louis Lemke set-up in the 67th minute, but ultimately saw his well-curled effort graze the right post. It would prove Daka’s last action of the match. Polzin brought on two more natural strikers, Otto Stange and newly signed Terem Moffi, to attempt to capitalize on the momentum shift. Neither player was able to make their presence felt.

Dortmund survive with 10 men

The hosts still looked the more likely side to score, until a reckless challenge from BVB sub Samuele Inacio forced Dortmund to play the final 15 minutes shorthanded. Inacio – on the pitch for only two minutes – was immediately shown red by match official Felix Zwayer after he sent Grønbaek flying with a 76th-minute slide tackle. Albert Sambi Lokonga and Grønbaek himself came closest to helping HSV take advantage in the match’s final ten minutes. Dortmund keeper Kobel nevertheless stood tall against Grønbaek (79th) and HSV sub Rayan Philippe (90+4) to preserve the scoreline.

Borussia Dortmund Player Ratings

Gregor Kobel (7) – Daniel Svensson (7), Waldemar Anton (6), Joane Gadou (6) – Maximilian Beier (8), Felix Nmecha (5), Jobe Bellingham (7), Julian Ryerson (6) – Giannis Konstantelias (8), Konstantinos Karetsas (9) – Serhou Guirassy (7)

Substitutes: Marcel Sabitzer (4), Joey Veerman (4), Filippo Mané (5), Samuele Inacio (1), Kaua Prates (-)

Hamburg Player Ratings

Daniel Heuer Fernandes (6) – Jordan Torunarigha (5), Sebastiaan Bornauw (4), Nicolas Capaldo (5) – Louis Lemke (6), Nicolai Remberg (5), Albert Sambi Lokonga (4), Bakery Jatta (6) – Albert Grønbaek (6), Martin Adeline (4) – Patson Daka (6)

Substitutes: Terem Moffi (3), Otto Stange (3), Bilal Nadir (-), Yussuf Poulsen (-), Rayan Philippe (-)

GGFN Bundesliga Player of the Match: Konstantinos Karetsas (9)

Karetsas narrowly edges out the almost equally exciting Maximilian Beier by virtue of the fact that the teenage sensation’s opening hour of play was simply unreal. The new summer signing followed up a memorable performance in the DFL Supercup with a monster Bundesliga debut. In his 74-minute-long shift, Karetsas furnished six shots on goal and assisted on three more. He also recorded 19 sprints, completed six long dribbles, and won 70 percent of his ground challenges. BVB supporters can presumably look forward to an excellent Bundesliga season from their new acquisition provided he remains fit.

GGFN | Peter Weis