Hamburger SV vs. VfL Wolfsburg preview: Eleventh host fifteenth at Volksparkstadion | OneFootball

HAMBURGER SV

After a chaotic 2. Bundesliga season in 2024/25 that saw them gain promotion in second place, Hamburger SV (2-2-3, 11th) have returned to the Bundesliga and are exceeding expectations in it. Die Rothosen defeated 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 and thumped 1. FSV Mainz 05 in the last four weeks, and two of their three defeats have come by one goal where they led in a few statistical categories.

Coach Merlin Polzin was asked in Thursday's press conference about the impact of HSV playing in the top-flight, and how he feels that things have gone for his side in recent weeks.

“In the Bundesliga, incredible quality awaits us every week - we get to face the best teams in Germany and Europe. Yes, we are challengers, but we want to interpret this role in our very own way. We do not downplay ourselves - we know what we must do. But, at the same time, we also know what we cannot do yet and where we can improve; we remain our own biggest critic,” the 34-year-old Hamburg native said.

He continued with an example from last Saturday, a 1-2 defeat to RB Leipzig in which the team led in all statistical categories but failed to pick up a point: “In Leipzig, for example, despite our momentum in the second half, we didn't manage to create clear-cut chances. Therefore, one of the topics discussed in training this week was that we want and need to develop more goal-scoring opportunities from situations in build-up and transition plays.”

Polzin also discussed the match ahead, the opposition, and why he believes Wolfsburg are going to put up a fight at the Volksparkstadion.

“We are facing a team that not only has a very high squad value, but also boasts fantastic individual players - Arnold, Eriksen, Amoura, Souza, and so on. The are very talented, experienced, and exciting players to watch. Regardless of whether Wolfsburg have not had a good run of results in recent weeks, we have definitely been warned,” he said.

Polzin added: "We know that we have to be at 100% in every game to score points and pick up victories. Even that can sometimes not be enough in the Bundesliga, especially when looking back at the Leipzig match, where we came close to our best. It is going to be a heated battle with tough duels - and for that, we not only need the team from the start, but also the stadium to make it a home match again, one that does justice to the Volkspark.”

Regarding the amount of players available for this match, as Hamburg currently have just three injuries in their squad, Polzin said, “A huge compliment goes to everyone working in the medical department and the athletics department - with the exception of Warmed [Omari], whose injury resulted from a tackle, we currently have all of our key players available. That is not normal. They're doing really good work there.”

“That is why difficult personnel decisions are not a problem for me and the coaching staff, but perhaps more of a challenge in terms of moderation and communication. If you take the central midfield, for example, then we have a surplus with our current style of play,” he added. “What pleased me most in the group discussion was that the boys want to do everything they can for the team's success and that it is primarily about ensuring that our opponents put in the same effort through good performances in games and training. It is a cool situation.”

Team News:

Georgian wing-back / midfielder Giorgi Gocholeishvili (broken nose) is unlikely to return to the starting eleven for this weekend's match. Goalkeeper Hannes Hermann (ankle) is expected to return in two weeks, and as mentioned above, the recent injury of Warmed Omari (ankle) is the only long-term one affecting the club - the Comorese centre-back will be absent from the squad until the third week of January at the earliest.

Projected XI (3-4-3):

Fernandes - Elfadli, Vušković, Capaldo - Muheim, Remberg, Sambi, Mikelbrencis - Dompé, Königsdörffer, Philippe.

VFL WOLFSBURG

As for fifteenth-place VfL Wolfsburg (1-2-4, 15th), they will be visiting the Volksparkstadion in a competitive match for the first time since a 0-0 draw on 9 December 2017. Despite their relegation that year, HSV still managed to win the reverse match at the Volkswagen Arena, 3-1 on 28 April 2018.

Only Maximilian Arnold and Yannick Gerhardt remain from that matchday squad; to put this time difference into perspective, Wolfsburg had Mario Gómez as their main striker; DFB-Pokal winning defensive midfielder Joshua Guilavogui was on the squad; Victor Osimhen and Divock Origi were playing for Die Wölfe, before making impacts at SSC Napoli and Liverpool FC; and Swiss coach Martin Schmidt led the squad - eight coaches, permanent or interim, have come and gone since then.

The two teams played in a pair of friendlies after HSV were relegated to 2. Bundesliga. Wolfsburg and HSV were involved in a 1-1 draw in 2019, with Marcel Tisserand and Martin Harnik having scored in the second half; two years later, Wolfsburg emerged 4-1 victors at Volkswagen Arena, with a hat-trick from Lukas Nmecha, another from Maximilian Arnold, and a lone Anssi Suhonen goal for the visitors.

The fans will particularly make their presence known at this away match, according to reports; at least 5000 fans will be making the trip 200 kilometres north to Hamburg.

“At this point, we want to thank our supporters very much: over 5000 Wolfsburgers who will make their way to Hamburg. We are now duty-bound to bring all the things that we have discussed onto the pitch to satisfy the many VfL fans who will be traveling with us. That is our task. We want to approach this with enthusiasm and positivity,” Wolfsburg sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz said to the media on Thursday.

Regarding the current situation of the club, as VfL Wolfsburg have only five points through seven matches and are just one point from the relegation zone, Schindzielorz was not hesitant to discuss the current situation of the club and what it needs to build in the weeks ahead.

“We are very self-critical in this situation with ourselves - we know that this is not a good phase for us right now”, the 46-year-old said. “We discuss and analyse things together – sometimes with the players, sometimes with the coach or other members of the coaching staff. We are trying to find ways out of this situation, together.”

Schindzielorz was explicitly asked during the press conference by AZ/WAZ journalist Andreas Pahlmann, in front of 40-year-old Dutch coach Paul Simonis, whether he heard players stating that there may be a problem with training procedures, the specific content used in training, any personnel, or even Simonis himself.

“From my point of view, there has not been a situation at all where anything along these lines has been said, beyond the normal discussions. In this regard, as I said, it is tough for me to comment and understand when these things are like, ‘one has heard’ or ‘there are rumours’, it is difficult to go into these sorts of things in concrete terms.”

Under the current pressure that the club is facing, Simonis is open to changing the players in rotation for the starting eleven in the future, but did not state whether it was going to be this week in particular; another question that has not been specified yet is whether a formational change is needed from the current 4-2-3-1.

“We have a large squad, many options - and we know that the upcoming game is very important for us. It could well be that there will be changes in some positions, but that is something for later,” he said.

Simonis was asked regarding comments made by Arnold earlier in the week, that the captain felt like the team was not connecting well. “That is the case - if you look at the last two matches, they were not great performances for us. The fighting spirit was very low, especially against Dortmund and Leipzig, and we are also very critical of ourselves.”

However, Simonis stated to the media that he wants to maintain a level of positivity despite the recent results: “I believe that we have a lot of potential to develop - I believe that we can change this. I was not there when Max [Arnold] said it, I think that is the case, but it is not easy with so many new players, including those abroad. We have changed the philosophy of our game - we need time, that is logical, but I know that we need to win a match quickly, and I hope we can do that this week.”

Team News:

The list of injuries for VfL is quite long, but two players are expected to return within the next couple of weeks and could get playing time down the road.

Swedish midfielder Mattias Svanberg (knee) could return to the training ground within the next week, and he will be followed by Brazilian left-back Rogério (muscle), who is set to return in the first week of November. Danish winger Jesper Lindstrøm (groin), on loan from SSC Napoli, remains out until the second week of November at the earliest; Slovak centre-back Denis Vavro (groin) will be absent until early December, and American right midfielder Kevin Paredes (ankle) will be out until the first week of January.

German defender Kilian Fischer (foot) is the newest name on the list, as Simonis discussed his condition in the press conference on Thursday afternoon. “Kilian Fischer has an ankle injury and could be out for a month. Jesper Lindstrøm and Denis Vavro are both on a good path to recovery, but the upcoming weekend is still too early,” he said.

With Fischer's injury, Saël Kumbedi could replace him at right-back in the starting eleven. “Saël is an option. He showed good performance on the training pitch last week. We have used the time so far to instill our playing philosophy in him, as he joined us very late. Therefore, it is quite possible that he will now get more minutes.”

Projected XI (4-2-3-1):

Grabara - Zehnter, Koulierakis, Jenz, Kumbedi - Souza, Arnold - Amoura, Eriksen, Daghim - Wind.