Played
September 22, 2012 4:30 PM EAT
Imtech Arena — Hamburg
Referee:‬ G. Perl‎
Attendance:‬ 57000‎
 

Hamburg - Borussia Dortmund Preview: Van der Vaart could be key to ending Klopp's long unbeaten run

The midfielder could be pivotal in transforming the fortunes of Thorsten Fink's ailing side, but will have his work cut out against an in-form BVB team high in confidence

By Craig Turnbull

More On :  Borussia Dortmund, Hamburger SV, Rafael van der Vaart, Hamburger SV vs Borussia Dortmund
Champions League, Ajax Amsterdam vs. Borussia Dortmund
Bongarts

 PROBABLE LINEUPS

HAMBURG


Adler
Diekmeier, Bruma, Westermann, Jansen
Arslan, Badelj,
Sala, van der Vaart, Ilicevic
Son
BORUSSIA DORTMUND


Weidenfeller
Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer
Gundagon, Kehl
Kuba, Gotze, Reus
Lewandowski

Rafael van der Vaart will make his first appearance at the Imtech Arena since rejoining Hamburg from Tottenham in the summer. Coach Thorsten Fink will be hoping he can produce some Dutch magic to kick-start their season as they have yet to register any points in the Bundesliga after three games - a statistic that could see a host of changes.

On the other hand, visitors Borussia Dortmund have made a great start to their campaign after taking seven points from a possible nine and were impressive in their 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen last week. A midweek win over Ajax in the Champions League will have done no harm to the confidence of Jurgen Klopp's side, who are 31 games unbeaten in the Bundesliga.

Petr Jiracek is suspended for the hosts after seeing red in last week's defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, with Tolgay Arslan set to come in. Defender Dennis Aogo may also miss out with flu and Paul Scharner has a knee ligament problem. Their opponents have no real injury concerns apart from Patrick Owomoyela.
  DID YOU KNOW
  • Dortmund are currently 31 games unbeaten and are chasing down the record of 36 matches without loss, set by their opponents Hamburg back in January 1983. 
  • Next Saturday, Hamburg will celebrate their 125th anniversary and are the only team that have competed every season in the Bundesliga since it started back in 1963.
  • Rafael van der Vaart (right) has played against Dortmund four times and been on the winning side in three of those games, scoring twice.
  • BVB are undefeated in their last seven games against Hamburg.
  • Hamburg have made their worst start to the league season in 40 years.
  • The last time these two sides met was back in January, with Dortmund running out 5-1 winners.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Hamburger SV 0-2 Borussia Dortmund
    16.55 %
  • Hamburger SV 0-3 Borussia Dortmund
    14.89 %
  • Hamburger SV 1-3 Borussia Dortmund
    13.95 %
Head to Head
Germany - 1. Bundesliga ‎(GER1)‎ Feb 9, 2013 Borussia Dortmund 1 - Hamburger SV 4
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Germany - 1. Bundesliga ‎(GER1)‎ Sep 22, 2012 Hamburger SV 3 - Borussia Dortmund 2
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Club Friendlies ‎(FR)‎ Aug 4, 2012 Hamburger SV 0 - Borussia Dortmund 1
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Germany - 1. Bundesliga ‎(GER1)‎ Jan 22, 2012 Hamburger SV 1 - Borussia Dortmund 5
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Germany - 1. Bundesliga ‎(GER1)‎ Aug 5, 2011 Borussia Dortmund 3 - Hamburger SV 1
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Last Five Matches
Hamburger SV
May 18, 2013Hamburger SV 0 - Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1GER1
May 11, 2013TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 1 - Hamburger SV 4GER1
May 5, 2013Hamburger SV 1 - VfL Wolfsburg 1GER1
Apr 28, 2013FC Schalke 04 4 - Hamburger SV 1GER1
Apr 20, 2013Hamburger SV 2 - Fortuna Düsseldorf 1GER1
Borussia Dortmund
May 25, 2013Borussia Dortmund 1 - FC Bayern München 2UCL
May 18, 2013Borussia Dortmund 1 - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 2GER1
May 11, 2013VfL Wolfsburg 3 - Borussia Dortmund 3GER1
May 4, 2013Borussia Dortmund 1 - FC Bayern München 1GER1
Apr 30, 2013Real Madrid CF 2 - Borussia Dortmund 0UCL
Odds
Returns: HSV $55.00 Ladbrokes Sign up today with Ladbrokes and get a $20 welcome bonus!
Returns: Draw $40.00 Ladbrokes Sign up today with Ladbrokes and get a $20 welcome bonus!
Returns: Dortmund $15.71 Ladbrokes Sign up today with Ladbrokes and get a $20 welcome bonus!
Team News
Available Squads
15René AdlerGoalkeeper
2Dennis DiekmeierDefender
3Michael MancienneDefender
4Heiko WestermannDefender
7Marcell JansenMidfielder
11Ivo IlicevicMidfielder
14Milan BadeljMidfielder
18Tolgay Ali ArslanMidfielder
23Rafael van der VaartMidfielder
10Artjoms RudņevsStriker
40Heung-Min SonStriker
1Jaroslav DrobnýGoalkeeper
37Janek SternbergDefender
-Robert TescheMidfielder
21Maximilian BeisterMidfielder
22Jacopo SalaMidfielder
25Per Ciljan SkjelbredMidfielder
16Marcus BergStriker
1Roman WeidenfellerGoalkeeper
4Neven SuboticDefender
15Mats HummelsDefender
26Lukasz PiszczekDefender
29Marcel SchmelzerDefender
5Sebastian KehlMidfielder
7Moritz LeitnerMidfielder
10Mario GötzeMidfielder
14Ivan PerisicMidfielder
9Robert LewandowskiStriker
11Marco ReusMidfielder
20Mitchell LangerakGoalkeeper
24Chris LöweDefender
27Felipe SantanaDefender
6Sven BenderMidfielder
16Jakub BlaszczykowskiMidfielder
19Kevin GroßkreutzMidfielder
23Julian SchieberStriker
Players to Watch
Rafael van der Vaart
Rafael van der Vaart
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 23
Games Goals YC RC
27 5 5 0
Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 9
Games Goals YC RC
31 24 2 1
Prediction
Editor's Prediction
HSV 1
Dortmund 3
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Stefan Kießling Stefan Kießling
Striker
Leverkusen 		25 4
Robert Lewandowski Robert Lewandowski
Striker
Dortmund 		24 1
Alexander Meier Alexander Meier
Midfielder
Eintracht Frankfurt 		17 3
Vedad Ibisevic Vedad Ibisevic
Striker
VfB Stuttgart 		15 5
Mario Mandzukic Mario Mandzukic
Striker
FC Bayern München 		15 0