HSV confirm: Lokonga out against Mainz, Vieira on the bench | OneFootball

HSV face 1. FSV Mainz 05 on Matchday 2 of the 2. Bundesliga. We’ve got the lineups for the match at the Volksparkstadion.

Sunday afternoon, perfect football weather, and the euphoria of a strong late transfer push in tow: the mood on the Elbe could hardly be better despite the 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund. For days now, HSV fans have clearly been showing their huge anticipation for the first home game of the season.

Head coach Merlin Polzin described it in similar terms. “We’re really happy that it’s Sunday, 3:30 p.m. Finally Hamburg again. Finally the Volkspark again! We’ll let ourselves be surprised by what happens then,” the 35-year-old enthused at the pre-match press conference on Friday. However, he refused to give away any information about his lineup. But now there is certainty!

HSV attack: Polzin opts for Moffi

In front of first-choice goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes, Polzin is sticking with his tried-and-tested back three. Just like in the away game in Dortmund, Nicolas Capaldo, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Jordan Torunarigha start. In the wing-back positions, the two Deadline Day signings Zakaria El Ouahdi and David Möller Wolfe are immediately handed starts.

Photo: IMAGO

In central midfield, meanwhile, captain Nicolai Remberg and Bilal Nadir line up. The Moroccan replaces Sambi Lokonga, who, according to the club, is ruled out at short notice due to back problems. It will be particularly important to provide cover for the creative duo of Albert Grønbaek and Martin Adeline. Contrary to the hopes of all HSV fans, Fabio Vieira has not yet made it into the starting XI.

Up front, Polzin goes with Terem Moffi. The Nigerian got the nod over Patson Daka. Former captain Yussuf Poulsen also has to settle for a place on the bench. It remains to be seen, then, whether the veteran will make his 250th Bundesliga appearance against Mainz.

The lineups at a glance:

HSV: Heuer Fernandes, El Ouahdi, Capaldo, Bornauw, Torunarigha, Möller Wolfe, Remberg, Nadir, Adeline, Grønbaek, Moffi

Mainz: Schwolow, Caci, Posch, Gruber, Potulski, Mwene, Sano, Amiri, Lee, Becker, Tietz

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