HSV are back! Top pundits predict how the season opener will go | OneFootball

Finally, the time has come! On Sunday, a drought of over seven years comes to an end: In the away match against Borussia Mönchengladbach, HSV returns to the biggest stage of German football.

This brings things full circle, something many HSV fans had almost stopped believing in. Because: Their last top-flight match was played on May 12, 2018—fittingly, against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Despite a 2-1 victory, the team from the north had to accept relegation to the 2. Bundesliga for the first time ever due to a lack of help from other teams.

After seven years of absence, HSV is back. And with promotion, not only does anticipation rise, but so does the excitement: How will HSV fare in the top tier? Which players might surprise, which positions still cause concern, and who will become the defining factor of the season?

To shed light on these questions, we invited three renowned experts to share their assessments. Below, we present their opinions on the most important topics surrounding the start of the 2025/2026 season.

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The Big HSV Forecast for the 2025/2026 Season Start

HSV is finally back in the Bundesliga after seven long years! What are you most looking forward to?

Jan Schultz (Tactics blogger at rautenball.de): Of course, the smaller stadiums of the 2. Bundesliga have their charm, but I’m really looking forward to seeing HSV play again in Germany’s biggest stadiums. Plus, the four derbies—even if we briefly had them in the second division.

Tobias Kröger (Transfermarkt.de): I’m most looking forward to the Bundesliga derbies against Werder Bremen. Given Bremen’s current weaknesses, these could even be evenly matched duels. It’s also interesting to take on the underdog role again, after years of always being the favorite who had to deliver.

Daniel Jovanov (Freelance journalist): What I’m most looking forward to is higher-quality football. The 2. Bundesliga had its appeal with tradition, atmosphere, and excitement, but the level was sometimes limited. In the Bundesliga, HSV will face more attractive opponents, making it much more interesting for fans and the environment.

How did you like the transfer window so far? What grade would you give the work of Claus Costa and Stefan Kuntz?

JS: Much depends on the last few days. They’re still looking for a center-back and an attacking-minded yet hard-running midfielder. If they get both with starting eleven quality, I think you can be satisfied, considering how big the project was after promotion. Right now, I’d give it a grade of 3 (satisfactory).

TK: I’d give HSV a 3- (between satisfactory and fair). They started well with the transfers of Remberg and Capaldo. The transfer of Poulsen as Selke’s successor also makes sense, but transfers like Omari or Gocholeishvilli came several weeks too late. I’m also not sure if their quality is sufficient. 2-3 reinforcements are still missing, and in my opinion, they’re waiting too long for Vuskovic.

DJ: The major squad overhaul shows that HSV is bringing too little quality substance into the Bundesliga. For years, too many wrong personnel decisions were made; otherwise, they wouldn’t have to replace almost half the team today. Among the new signings so far, there’s no clear immediate reinforcement; many still seem like question marks. I’m surprised that squad planner Claus Costa’s work is hardly being critically questioned despite numerous misjudgments. This transfer window feels like patchwork, not a well-thought-out concept. That’s not enough for the Bundesliga—grade 4- (insufficient).

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HSV lost all five of its friendlies against well-known opponents. How loud should the fans’ alarm bells be ringing before the season even starts?

JS: Friendlies are for testing—that may sound silly, but in the end, you never really know the circumstances for the friendlies, how fresh the players were physically and mentally, and what the focus was. Still, it certainly didn’t give you an overly good feeling. But before sounding the big alarm, I’d like to wait for the Bundesliga start.

TK: I was pretty relaxed before the DFB Cup match, as friendly results rarely concern me since they say little about the coming season. However, I have to admit that the game in Pirmasens shocked me, and now I’m more on alert. Still, we shouldn’t panic and should just hope for a respectable start to the season.

DJ: People like to say friendlies shouldn’t be overvalued, but the trend was clear. In the cup against Pirmasens, this became especially obvious, as HSV only equalized in stoppage time against a fifth-division team and allowed many chances. A team playing four divisions lower and not even at professional level caused HSV significant problems. It all still doesn’t look Bundesliga-ready.

With Gladbach, St. Pauli, Bayern, Union Berlin, and Heidenheim, HSV has a highly explosive opening program full of highlight matches. Still, they’ll be playing for important points against supposed direct rivals in the relegation battle right away. How many points will the team have after the first five matchdays?

JS: By nature, I’m rather pessimistic. Not out of distrust toward those responsible or the club, but mostly as self-protection against disappointment. If I try to be realistic, I’d estimate they’ll have 4-5 points after the first five games.

TK: I’d guess 7 points. The two home games will be won. Plus, they’ll get a point either against Union or Gladbach. That would be a good start to the season. In Munich, there’ll be the obligatory thrashing, but you have to live with that and move on right away.

DJ: Five points would be a decent haul. But it’s also clear that the biggest challenge is not just to be defensively solid—which is already hard enough after a system change, squad overhaul, and partly new defense—but also to score goals. Creating chances and picking up points with a more defensive system will be much harder in the Bundesliga than in the second division.

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Just a few weeks ago, HSV’s coaching staff all extended their contracts. Are Merlin Polzin and his young assistants up to the Bundesliga challenge?

JS: I think, purely in terms of expertise, HSV will find few coaches who are better suited. Merlin Polzin and his assistants repeatedly show that they’re creative in decision-making, don’t dogmatically stick to certain principles, and always keep their eyes on maximum sporting success. Whether that will work in practice with the team remains to be seen. But in terms of content, they’re 100% up to the task.

TK: That’s an interesting question. Polzin has already shown his tougher side in recent weeks and has made some tough decisions. He no longer relies on long-time regulars like Schonlau or Jatta, which was a bit of a fear of mine. So he’s definitely become bolder in his decisions, which generally gives me hope. Regarding the playing system—three or four at the back—the coaching team is getting a bit lost. The system change has failed so far and could become a stumbling block.

DJ: Emotionally, you can understand why HSV is showing trust in its coaches. But the early contract extensions weren’t necessary. Polzin achieved promotion, but he hasn’t yet experienced a real crisis as head coach. In the Bundesliga, he’ll face coaches with more experience and standing. Whether he can hold his own in such situations remains to be seen.

Which HSV player will be the biggest surprise in the Bundesliga?

JS: My tip is Warmed Omari. His playing profile convinced me right away. I hope he can reduce careless mistakes in defense to a minimum. If he brings his full potential to the pitch this season, HSV could have a real coup on their hands.

TK: I think Aboubaka Soumahoro could play a bigger role over the course of the season than people currently expect. But also, Emir Sahiti’s style of football is better suited to the Bundesliga than the tough second division. I’m very curious and could imagine him playing more in the attacking center as the season progresses, where he can use his strengths better than on the wing.

DJ: I’m hoping for homegrown talents like Otto Stange. For decades, HSV has failed to truly integrate and develop talents sustainably. Given the high investment in youth, this has to succeed at last. Stange could become a symbol of that.

Photo: Getty Images

Who will be the disappointment of the season? Is there a prominent player you doubt can keep up in the Bundesliga?

JS: At the moment, the mood among HSV fans toward Rayan Philippe and Jordan Torunarigha isn’t great. But I feel both could become valuable over the course of the season. For Daniel Elfadli, I could imagine he might struggle with the ball—regardless of the fact that I really like him as a player and even have this year’s home jersey with his name in my closet.

TK: Robert Glatzel could have trouble getting many starts this season. For me, he’s even a candidate to leave in the final days of the transfer window if he doesn’t get playing time. He doesn’t seem to play a big role in preparations.

DJ: It could be tough for Robert Glatzel. Even last season, he was slowed by injury and lost his starting spot. Now his competitor Yussuf Poulsen has even been named captain. That suggests Glatzel will probably be second choice. For him personally, that would be a bitter development, as he strongly identifies with the club and his role.

What does HSV bring back to the Bundesliga that has been missing for the past seven years?

JS: Drama, emotions, and lots of headlines. HSV is back and, almost before the season even starts, already considered relegated. What would go unnoticed at other clubs is scrutinized under a magnifying glass at HSV. But that’s what keeps the club alive, for better or worse.

TK: HSV brings more charisma back to the Bundesliga. Maybe not necessarily in the form of refreshing attacking football, but the club as a whole is an asset to the league. HSV can impress with its big stadium, location, and fans, and is always a talking point. It’s a win for the league that HSV is back, at least for a season.

DJ: Lots of fans. HSV brings a charisma and fan base that clubs like Heidenheim or Kiel haven’t come close to recently. In terms of conditions—revenue, reach, media presence—HSV is bigger than many established Bundesliga clubs. In sporting terms, though, they’re not at that level. This discrepancy makes them special and interesting for the league.

Photo: Getty Images

And now, cards on the table: Where will HSV finish at the end of the season?

JS: It’s hard for me to believe that a club that spent 7 years in the 2. Bundesliga can immediately keep up with established Bundesliga teams. For any other promoted side, you’d automatically assume 18th place, but with HSV, there’s the expectation that the last years since 2018 are more or less instantly forgotten. I say 16th place. Relegation playoff, as always.

TK: I think HSV will save themselves with a big effort in the relegation playoff, where they’ll prevail against the second-division team. A finish above the playoff spot would be a huge success for a promoted team.

DJ: Staying up would already be a success, even if it’s only via the relegation playoff. But more new signings will be needed for that. One thing is clear: the big party like in the 2. Bundesliga is over for now. Fans need to prepare for that.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.