Emotional reunion: Bayern boss Kompany faces former club HSV | OneFootball

On Saturday evening, a traditional duel between FC Bayern and Hamburger SV will take place at the Allianz Arena. For Munich's coach Vincent Kompany, the North-South clash will be an emotional affair - after all, the Belgian is facing his former club.

The reunion is symbolic: Between 2006 and 2008, Kompany laced up his boots for the Hanseatic team before taking the next step in his career. "My time in Hamburg was simply very important and wonderful. I have many friends there. It was a tough school with Huub Stevens and Thomas Doll. But I learned a lot. I was young, came from Belgium - it was my first time abroad," explained the current Bayern coach in an interview with bundesliga.de.

Curiously, his last game for the Red Shorts was at the Allianz Arena against FC Bayern. Almost two decades later, the reunion will take place there again - this time on the sidelines.

Lokonga and Kompany: A Special Kind of Reunion

Photo: IMAGO

Another special aspect of the match: Albert Sambi Lokonga, a new HSV signing, will be on the pitch, and Kompany knows him well. During his time at RSC Anderlecht, he once made the Belgian midfielder captain. Lokonga now recalls their time together: "He made me the boss. I also know that he was once at HSV. I haven't seen him for a long time and I'm looking forward to the reunion."

For the 23-year-old Lokonga, the encounter with his former mentor will be a duel with an emotional note - just like for Kompany, who took his first steps in a major European league at HSV as a young defender.

Bayern with Full Offensive Power

From a sporting perspective, the signs clearly point to a victory for the Munich team. After the furious 6:0 home win against RB Leipzig and the narrow 3:2 victory in Augsburg, the record champions want to maintain their clean sheet and achieve their third win in the third game.

The question of the lineup remains particularly exciting. Although new signing Nicolas Jackson is available for the first time, a starting eleven appearance against the North Germans is rather unlikely. Instead, Kompany is likely to rely on his proven offensive with Harry Kane, Serge Gnabry, Luis Díaz, and Michael Olise.

While Bayern want to defend their league lead, HSV hopes for a statement on their return to the Bundesliga. For Kompany, however, the duel will be a special chapter in his coaching career regardless of the result - a reunion with his past that also shapes his future as Bayern coach.

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