Hamburger SV will face RB Leipzig away on September 13 at 13:30 UTC in the Red Bull Arena. The team arrives after a 0-5 home defeat to FSV Mainz 05 on September 6 and sits bottom of the Bundesliga with zero points from two games. RB Leipzig, currently ninth in the table, has won two, lost two and drawn one of their last five matches. The last meeting between the sides ended in a 1-2 win for RB Leipzig at the Volksparkstadion on March 1. HSV will look to improve their defensive frailties after conceding seven goals in their last two league games. Leipzig continue to rely on their attacking interplay between Christopher Nkunku and Benjamin Šeško, while HSV will depend on the experience of captain Sebastian Schonlau and the involvement of young talents like Antoine Grønbaek. Both sides used the international break to tweak tactics and address personnel shortages. HSV must significantly improve their finishing, having managed only one shot on target against Mainz. Leipzig are expected to line up in a 4-4-2 formation, while HSV are likely to stick with the 3-4-2-1 system used against Mainz. The match is highly anticipated by fans of both clubs as it could serve as an early indicator of their seasonal trajectories. For HSV, it is a chance to secure their first win of the season and lift themselves off the bottom of the table. Leipzig aim to consolidate their position in the upper half and increase pressure on the European qualification spots. Referee Felix Zwayer, who has officiated several matches involving both teams this season, is expected to take charge. The game will be broadcast live on free-to-air TV via Sport1 and is also available through the DFB's livestream. HSV travel with a full squad aside from the long-term injured Miro Muheim and Ransom Yersey. Leipzig will be without the suspended Konrad Laimer, who received a second yellow card against Werder Bremen and serves a one-match ban. Both managers are expected to address the mental preparation and significance of the fixture in their pre-match press conferences. The result could be key for the confidence of both sides in the coming weeks. HSV have yet to score a goal this season and must urgently improve their attack to avoid being dragged deeper into the relegation battle. Leipzig, meanwhile, have scored eight goals in their last three home games and are particularly strong in front of their own fans. Attendance is expected to come close to the Red Bull Arena's capacity of 47,069, given the large followings of both clubs. After the match, HSV will host Holstein Kiel on September 20, while Leipzig will face Eintracht Frankfurt on the same day. Both teams will look to take valuable lessons from this encounter as they pursue their respective seasonal objectives.
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RB Leipzig to host Hamburger SV in Bundesliga clash on September 13
Hamburger SV travel to RB Leipzig after a 0-5 defeat to Mainz, with the hosts sitting ninth in the Bundesliga table.
