Matchday in focus: Hamburger SV | OneFootball

We shine the spotlight on the promoted team, who line up in a 3-4-3 system and have historically struggled against Eintracht.

Tactics

Head coach Merlin Polzin has held the first-team reins at Hamburg since the end of last year, having previously been in charge in a caretaker capacity. The 35-year-old has instilled clear patterns of play into his side, and tends to send them out in a 3-4-3 formation. 

“We know we need to give more than 100 percent and that we can’t allow ourselves to ease up,” said Polzin ahead of Saturday’s match. “Our opponents have the kind of quality that puts them in the top third of the Bundesliga – regardless of any individual players they might be missing.” Absentees

HSV will be without Jean-Luc Dompé, Robert Glatzel, Warmed Omari, Yussuf Poulsen and Alexander Røssing-Lelesiit, while Gui Ramos and Fábio Vieira are doubtful.

For the Eagles, Michy Batshuayi, Jonathan Burkardt and Timothy Chandler are all sidelined with injury. Farès Chaibi and Ellyes Skhiri are at the Africa Cup of Nations, Arthur Theate is suspended and Elye Wahi is ill.

One to watch: Luka Vuskovic

Luka Vuskovic moved to Hamburg on loan from Tottenham Hotspur at the start of the 2025/26 season and quickly established himself as a key member of the backline. The Croatian defender came through the ranks at Hajduk Split and made his debut in his country’s top flight at the age of just 16 years and two days, becoming the second youngest player ever in the league’s history. 

Vuskovic was loaned to Radomiak Radom and KVC Westerlo before moving to London with Tottenham. The 18-year-old has represented his country at every youth level, and earned his first senior international cap in June this year. 

Since joining HSV, he has been in the starting line-up for all of the club’s Bundesliga fixtures, scoring twice.  

Furthermore …

Facts and figures

HSV have not beaten Eintracht in any of the teams’ last 12 Bundesliga meetings, drawing five and losing seven.

Since suffering a 2-0 defeat in Bochum, the Eagles are unbeaten in a club-record 16 matches against promoted teams, winning 12 and drawing four. 

Frankfurt have won each of their last four away games against promoted sides, which is currently the longest winning streak of its kind in the league.

Hamburg have fielded 26 different players so far in 2025/26 – the joint-highest total in the league.