Hamburger SV face a key task on Saturday as they host 1. FC Köln, desperately needing to stop a dismal run of form. Having lost their first three Bundesliga matches, HSV are rooted to the bottom of the table with zero points.
The start to the campaign has been brutal. A 2-0 loss at Borussia Dortmund was followed by two 5-0 thrashings, against Mainz 05 and most recently away to RB Leipzig. In total, Tim Walter's side have conceded twelve league goals without scoring once. The next chance to put things right comes at home to Cologne on Saturday at 15:30 local time at the Volksparkstadion.
The defensive problems are not only tactical but also due to a mounting injury list. Three central defenders are unavailable: Mario Vušković is serving a doping ban until November, while Sebastiaan Bornauw and Alexander Røssing-Lelesiit are out with muscle and ankle injuries respectively. In midfield, Immanuel Pherai and Kofi Jeremy Amoako are also sidelined through illness.
These absences force Walter to improvise. In the 5-0 loss at Leipzig, S. Nandja, J. Torunarigha and N. Capaldo formed a back three. Ahead of them, A. Sambi Lokonga and N. Remberg are tasked with providing more solidity. The attacking trio of Patson Daka, Albert Grønbæk and Yussuf Poulsen must finally find a cutting edge.
Securing a point or more against Cologne would be a vital boost for the season ahead. The current standings underline the urgency, with HSV nine points adrift of leaders SC Freiburg in 18th place. The upcoming schedule can be viewed on the club's fixtures page. The team urgently needs a positive result to break the negative cycle and build confidence for the challenges to come. The next competitive fixture after the Cologne game is scheduled for the following week.
