Next defeat in the test
© Imago
That was not enough of Hamburger SV again: After the Bundesliga promoter had not convinced in the past test games against top-class opponents with a total of 2:12 goals, there was now also a 0-2 defeat against RCD Mallorca. It was another appearance that was not a mood for the first Bundesliga season after seven years at the end of the training camp on the Balearic Island.
“Of course we hoped that we were further,” said head coach Merlin Polzin on Saturday evening after the test kick. Only in the second half did the newly formed Hamburg -based approaches occasionally show good approaches. Not more. Otherwise, a week before the competitive start in the DFB Cup at the top division FK Pirmasens and two weeks before the Bundesliga start at Borussia Mönchengladbach, neither tuned and recorded on the defensive nor in the game. “That was not the result that we expected or hoped for,” admitted defensive player Daniel Elfadli. Nevertheless, he said before the first competitive week: “We are up to date.”
HSV test against Mallorca: own goal of Muheim, red for Torunarigha
The latter was rarely visible against the Spanish first division team from Palma. After leading the ex-bochumer Takuma Asano (13th) for the hosts, Hamburg’s Miro Muheim (59th) undertook a curious own goal when he almost unexpectedly steered the ball into the goal over his goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. Ingrily end: the red card against defender Jordan Torunarigha (90th) after a rough foul.
Previously, the Hamburgers had already received defeats in the tests against the Danish champion FC Copenhagen (0: 1), the Austrian title holder Sturm Graz (1: 2), Olympique Lyon (0: 4) and the future league competitor SC Freiburg (0: 4). Only in part one of the double test in Freiburg had a 1-1. The head coach had always emphasized to deliberately choose quality teams as test opponents. The games should primarily show his team the weaknesses. The goal was achieved in any case.
HSV: Not on track after the cadre break yet
The squad of the 2025/26 season has little to do with that of the promotion season. Numerous heroes wanted to change or had to change, such as Ludovit Reis (FC Bruges) or 22-goal man Davie Selke (Basaksehir FK). Other actors like still captain Sebastian Schonlau no longer play a role, Robert Glatzel at least a smaller one for years. Glatzel’s Sturm colleague Ransford Königsdörffer would like to take the next step in his career, but currently has to digest the disappointment about the burst transfer to OGC Nice.
The decision for the great upheaval was based on the analysis and the knowledge of the coaching team around Polzin that it was not enough with the way and the skills of most HSV promotion heroes. Against RCD Mallorca there were seven new players in the starting line -up who only came this summer, including the Georgian Giorgi Gocholishvili, who was committed this week. The defense lawyer indicated that he could be a reinforcement quickly. However, other approaches such as Rayan Philippe or Torunarigha have not yet found their role. The ex-Leipzig Yussuf Poulsen needs time until the Bundesliga start after an injury. A total of nine players with hoped-for starting eleven potential came.
Polzin and sports director Stefan Kuntz advertise the sense of reality, especially among fans. You want to avoid illusory ideas as in the time before relegation 2018. The goal is at least 15th place. To do this, there is still a lot of work before Polzin. He needs time to do this – a rare good in the Bundesliga performance society. Captain candidate Elfadli in any case believes in the team: “We are a strong team. We are convinced of us.”