Borussia Dortmund - Hamburger SV: the return of a great Bundesliga clash in Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund and Hamburger SV open the new Bundesliga season with a head-to-head match at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. According to Hamburger SV's currently published schedule, the match is scheduled for Saturday, 29 August, starting at 18:30 local time. The home side enters the season as the runners-up from the previous championship, while HSV, after a stable comeback season, wants to show that it can move closer to the upper half of the table.
The difference in last season's performance was clear. Dortmund finished second with 73 points and a record of 22 wins, seven draws and five defeats. HSV was 13th with 38 points, after nine wins, 11 draws and 14 defeats. Borussia scored 70 goals in the process, while Hamburg scored 40.
Still, the most recent head-to-head meetings provide enough warning for the home side that this is not an opponent against whom a routine job can be expected. In March, HSV led 2:0 at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK itself before Dortmund completed a full turnaround in the closing stages and won 3:2.
Tickets for this match are in high demand among supporters. The combination of the opening round, a major stadium and two clubs with very large fan bases gives the match additional significance right from the start of the season.
What is at stake for Dortmund and Hamburg
For Borussia, last season's second place established a clear initial level of expectations. Niko Kovač's team finished with only five league defeats and conceded 34 goals, but the gap to the champions was still large. The opening round at home against a team that finished the previous season in the lower half of the table is therefore an opportunity to start without an early loss of points.
Hamburg's situation is different. After returning to the Bundesliga, the club finished the season six places above the automatic relegation zone. Polzin's team now enters its second consecutive season in the top flight, and starting against last season's runners-up immediately provides a good indication of how much the team has changed over the summer.
Last season's numbers provide a simple initial picture:
- Borussia Dortmund: 2nd place, 73 points, 70 goals scored and 34 conceded.
- Hamburger SV: 13th place, 38 points, 40 goals scored and 54 conceded.
- Dortmund finished the season with 22 league victories, HSV with nine.
- In the first head-to-head meeting last season, Hamburg and Dortmund drew 1:1.
- In the return match in Dortmund, Borussia came back from 0:2 down to win 3:2.
The 2026/27 season has not yet started, so the current table before the opening round has no sporting value. Much more useful indicators of the current situation are the end of last season, the summer squad changes and the latest pre-season matches.
Dortmund's backbone: Guirassy, Ryerson and a new face in midfield
Serhou Guirassy remains the focal point of Dortmund's attack. He finished the previous Bundesliga season with 17 goals, placing him third in the scoring charts. In the final major test before the competitive part of the season, he scored again, finding the net against AS Roma in a 2:2 draw at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK.
Julian Ryerson remains a particularly important source of chances. The Norwegian finished the previous season with 15 assists, the second-best total in the league. His deliveries from the flank and set pieces complement Guirassy's play in the penalty area well. Ryerson was also involved in the moves from which Dortmund fought back after falling 0:2 behind early in the pre-season match against Roma.
Another important change occurred immediately before the start of the season. On 18 August, Dortmund signed Joey Veerman from PSV Eindhoven. He is a midfielder whose creativity, vision and ball distribution were cited as the main reasons for the transfer. His arrival is particularly important following changes in the central midfield area, so it will be interesting to see how quickly he can become part of Kovač's basic structure.
Konstantinos Karetsas also attracted attention during pre-season. Against Roma, he attacked the defence directly several times, was involved in creating chances and hit the frame of the goal in the second half. Alongside its more experienced key players, Dortmund therefore also has younger players who can change the rhythm of a match through dribbling and play between the lines.
Borussia's personnel situation
Dortmund had several player availability problems in mid-August. Emre Can and Nico Schlotterbeck were among those with longer-term injuries at the time. Maximilian Beier missed the test against Roma after taking a knock to the knee, Carney Chukwuemeka had muscular problems, while the coaching staff avoided taking a risk with Waldemar Anton and announced his return to full training.
Since there is a time gap between that information and the match against HSV, the final list of available players should be checked closer to matchday. The situation in defence will be particularly important, as Kovač already had to use younger players there during pre-season.
Hamburg has changed its attack but retained a clear playing idea
Merlin Polzin enters the season with several significant changes. Ransford Königsdörffer left the club after four seasons and moved to 1. FSV Mainz 05, so HSV had to look for new energy at the top of the attack.
The most high-profile summer addition in that part of the team is Patson Daka. The Zambian striker arrived after five years at Leicester City. His profile suits the way HSV wants to attack space: he is quick, looks for runs in behind the last line and is ready to take part in aggressive pressing against the opponent's build-up play.
Alongside him, Otto Stange showed good form during pre-season. The young striker scored against Lille and then also found the net in a 2:1 victory away to Toulouse. Albert Grønbæk scored the winning goal in Toulouse in stoppage time, so HSV travels to Dortmund after a high-quality final test against a French top-flight side.
Nicolai Remberg also enters the new season with additional responsibility. Polzin appointed him captain, while Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nicolas Capaldo are among his deputies. Remberg's energy and work off the ball will be particularly important against a team that will probably try to retain possession for longer periods in HSV's half.
Hamburg also has a current problem in the back line. Warmed Omari suffered a shoulder injury and it has been confirmed that he will miss the start of the competitive season. His status for the trip to Dortmund therefore remains one of the things to monitor in the days leading up to the match.
Tactical picture: Dortmund's pressure against Hamburg's transition
During pre-season, Kovač used a system with three players in the back line and very active wide players. Against Roma, Ryerson and Daniel Svensson were given plenty of space to move along the touchline, while Karetsas and Samuele Inacio positioned themselves closer to Guirassy. The idea is clear: stretch the opposing defence, open space between the centre-back and the wide defender and deliver the ball as often as possible into the area from which Guirassy can finish moves.
Hamburg will find it difficult to spend the entire match only in a low block. Last season's trip to Dortmund showed how dangerous their direct play can be. Philip Otele and Albert Sambi Lokonga put HSV 2:0 ahead on that occasion, and several attacks developed after quickly breaking forward from regained possession.
This time Daka can add even more pace to that style of play. If Dortmund pushes its wide players high, the space behind them becomes a logical target for Hamburg. On the other hand, every prematurely misplaced pass by the visitors can create a situation in which Ryerson, Svensson, Karetsas or other Dortmund players immediately attack an unsettled defence.
An important battle will also take place at set pieces. Ryerson finished last season with 15 assists and was among the most productive creators in the entire league. Hamburg must therefore limit unnecessary fouls in areas from which Dortmund can deliver crosses towards Guirassy and the centre-backs.
Head-to-head meetings give Hamburg both a warning and reason for optimism
Dortmund is unbeaten in its last seven Bundesliga matches against HSV. During that period, it recorded six wins and one draw, while Hamburg's most recent league victory in this fixture dates back to the 2015/16 season.
Still, the two matches from last season are more relevant for the current coaches and a large part of the present squads. In Hamburg, it ended 1:1. Dortmund had more attempts but failed to turn its territorial advantage into a victory.
The return match in Dortmund was completely different. HSV went 2:0 ahead through goals from Otele and Sambi Lokonga. Borussia only turned the result around in the closing stages of the match. Ramy Bensebaini converted two penalties, while Guirassy scored the equaliser. It finished 3:2.
That match also provides a very concrete example of what awaits the visitors at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. For more than an hour, Hamburg had a scoreline that looked like a major away victory, but after Dortmund's first goal the pressure increased rapidly. Controlling the emotional rhythm of the match will therefore be just as important for HSV as defensive organisation.
SIGNAL IDUNA PARK and the atmosphere of the opening round
SIGNAL IDUNA PARK holds 81,365 spectators and is the largest football stadium in Germany. For the match against Roma in mid-August, all 81,365 seats were occupied, even though it was a pre-season fixture. That says enough about the level of interest surrounding Dortmund even before the league season begins.
The Südtribüne has a particularly important role, but the pressure on the visiting team is not limited to one section of the stadium. When Dortmund puts together several consecutive attacks, the intensity from the stands can further accelerate the match. That was exactly what could be seen in last season's comeback against HSV.
It is worth securing tickets in good time. For visitors arriving from other cities or countries, it is also useful to plan an earlier arrival in Dortmund, because the stadium area shares a traffic zone with Westfalenhallen and other major event venues.
How to get to the stadium
SIGNAL IDUNA PARK is located at Strobelallee 50 in Dortmund. Public transport is recommended for major home matches because traffic around the stadium becomes very heavy and certain streets may be closed.
- From Dortmund Hauptbahnhof, it is possible to take a regional train to SIGNAL IDUNA PARK station.
- Another option is the light rail towards the Westfalenhallen or Stadion stops.
- Lines U45, U42 and U46 are used to reach the stadium area, with U45 being the main connection from the direction of the central station.
- There are more than 10,000 paid parking spaces around the stadium, but for many areas a parking permit must be secured in advance.
- Parking area E3 is specifically designated for visiting supporters arriving by car.
Supporters arriving by car should not rely solely on navigation to the stadium's actual address. On matchdays, some roads may be closed, which is why following the local guidance system towards available parking areas is recommended.
For international visitors, an additional option is Dortmund Airport, which, according to stadium information, is located approximately 12 kilometres from SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. When planning departure after the match, congestion should be expected on railway platforms, on the light rail and at parking lot exits.
Entering the stadium and practical information
The stadium gates open 2.5 hours before kick-off, and the organiser recommends entering no later than 1.5 hours before the start in order to reduce waiting times at security checks. This is particularly useful for visitors coming to the stadium for the first time who still need to find the correct entrance and block.
There are four main entrance areas: Südost, Nordost, Nordmitte and Nordwest. The appropriate entrance depends on the sector specified on the ticket. Visiting supporters' sections use designated entrances on the northern side of the stadium, while the final arrangement may depend on the allocated ticket contingent.
The baggage rules are also worth checking before departure:
- Only bags up to DIN A4 size may be taken into the stadium.
- The maximum permitted depth of such a bag is 15 centimetres.
- Larger bags can be left at designated storage points, but storage capacity is limited.
- Large umbrellas, bottles and personal drinks are not among the items permitted inside.
The simplest option for a visitor is to arrive with a minimal amount of belongings. This shortens the security check at the entrance and avoids the need to leave baggage in storage.
What to monitor immediately before the match
Before the start of the Bundesliga, Dortmund still has a competitive match against Bayern München, while HSV plays a cup match away to SC Verl before travelling to Dortmund. Those matches will provide a much fresher picture than the summer friendlies.
Particular attention should be paid to the status of Dortmund's injured defensive players and Warmed Omari at HSV. It will be equally interesting to see how quickly Veerman settles into Kovač's midfield and whether Daka will immediately be given the main role in Hamburg's attack after the summer preparations.
For HSV, a successful start would confirm that last season's survival in the league is not the team's ultimate limit. Dortmund, on the other hand, has little room for a slow start to the championship at home against the team that finished 13th the previous season. Last year's 3:2 is a sufficiently fresh warning for both sides: Hamburg knows it can seriously threaten Borussia, while Dortmund knows that at this stadium a match can change direction within a few minutes.
Seats in the stands are disappearing quickly. For supporters travelling to Dortmund, the most important thing is to arrange their journey in advance, check the latest kick-off time and entrances, and allow enough time for congestion around the stadium.
Sources:
Bundesliga - match schedule, final table and statistics for the 2025/26 season, Dortmund - HSV head-to-head meetings and data on Guirassy and Ryerson.
BVB.de - Borussia Dortmund's schedule, the pre-season match against AS Roma, injury information, Joey Veerman's transfer and information about SIGNAL IDUNA PARK.
BVB.de - information on arrival by public transport and car, parking, entrances, stadium opening times and bag rules.
HSV.de - precise schedule for the opening round, HSV squad and pre-season matches, the appointment of Nicolai Remberg as captain and Warmed Omari's current condition.
HSV.de - information on the arrival of Patson Daka and the departure of Ransford Königsdörffer.