Match Info

Competition: Bundesliga — Gameweek 1

Date: August 29, 2026

Time: 17:30 (GMT+1)

Venue: Signal Iduna Park

Borussia Dortmund Preview

Borussia Dortmund begin their latest Bundesliga title challenge at home to newly established top-flight side Hamburger SV, with Niko Kovac's team looking to turn another strong domestic campaign into a genuine push for the championship. Dortmund finished second last season with 73 points and had the Bundesliga's best defensive record, conceding just 34 goals, although they ultimately finished 16 points behind Bayern Munich. The campaign has already started with disappointment after a 2-1 defeat to Bayern in the German Super Cup, but the BVB squad has been strengthened with exciting young talent. Serhou Guirassy will lead the attack, while new arrivals Konstantinos Karetsas and Giannis Konstantelias are expected to provide additional creativity. Jobe Bellingham and Felix Nmecha should anchor the midfield, with Nico Schlotterbeck and Emre Can unavailable through injury. Dortmund's home record is particularly encouraging, having lost only two of their last 17 Bundesliga matches at Signal Iduna Park.

Hamburger SV Preview

Hamburger SV return to Dortmund for their first Bundesliga fixture of the new season after successfully avoiding relegation following their promotion back to the top flight. Merlin Polzin's side finished 13th last season with 38 points, although they were only nine points clear of the relegation playoff position, highlighting the challenge ahead. HSV have started the new campaign positively, beating SC Verl 3-0 in the first round of the DFB-Pokal, and they will hope that momentum can carry into one of the most difficult away fixtures in Germany. However, Hamburg have failed to beat Dortmund in their last seven meetings, losing six of those encounters, including a 3-2 defeat in March. New signing Patson Daka impressed with an assist against Verl and will make his league debut, with Albert Gronbaek and Martin Adeline expected to support him in attack.

Probable Lineups

Borussia Dortmund (3-4-2-1)

Kobel; Gadou, Anton, Bensebaini; Ryerson, Bellingham, Nmecha, Svensson; Karetsas, Konstantelias; Guirassy

Hamburger SV (3-4-2-1)

Fernandes; Capaldo, Bornauw, Torunarigha; Jatta, Remberg, Lokonga, Lemke; Adeline, Gronbaek; Daka

We Say

Dortmund enter the Bundesliga campaign with greater squad depth, a formidable home record and a defence that was the best in the division last season. Hamburg can take confidence from their successful return to the top flight and their positive cup opening, but the visitors face a particularly difficult task against a BVB side eager to respond to the Super Cup disappointment. The key battle could come in the final third, where Guirassy's movement and the creativity of Karetsas and Konstantelias should give Dortmund several ways to break down Hamburg's defensive structure.

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