{"id":103610,"date":"2025-09-26T13:52:43","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T13:52:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getfootballnewsgermany.com\/?p=103610"},"modified":"2025-09-26T13:54:35","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T13:54:35","slug":"preview-union-berlin-vs-hamburger-sv-baumgart-plots-revenge-as-he-hosts-reunion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getfootballnewsgermany.com\/2025\/preview-union-berlin-vs-hamburger-sv-baumgart-plots-revenge-as-he-hosts-reunion\/","title":{"rendered":"Preview | Union Berlin vs Hamburger SV: Baumgart plots revenge as he hosts reunion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Union Berlin welcome big city neighbours, Hamburger SV to K\u00f6penick on Sunday evening for a historic first encounter in the Bundesliga.<\/span><\/p>\n

Neither side have met in German’s top division before but both sides will be brimming with confidence. <\/span><\/p>\n

Last weekend, the visitors defeated 1. FC Heidenheim 2-1, for their first league win of the season after defeats to city rivals FC St. Pauli (0-2) and FC Bayern Munich (0-5). <\/span><\/p>\n

The K\u00f6penickers picked up their second league win of the season, with a <\/span>spectacularly 4-3 win at Eintracht Frankfurt,<\/span><\/a>\u00a0thanks to a hat-trick from Scotland forward, Oliver Burke.<\/span><\/p>\n

A win for either side at this early stage of the season will calm any nerves of relegation and have fans dreaming of European qualification.<\/span><\/p>\n

Union Berlin<\/h2>\n
\n
\n

Steffen Baumgart<\/a>‘s side have been one of the most entertaining so far this season. <\/span><\/p>\n

Union Berlin have been involved in 19 goals so far this season, conceding 7 and scoring 6 in their previous two games.<\/span><\/p>\n

Union Berlin has conceded at least one goal in each of their last nine matches. Their last clean sheet was a 0-0 draw against Bayer Leverkusen on April 12th.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, Baumgart will only be able to watch the game from the stands. <\/span><\/p>\n

In the heated final moments of last weekend’s victory, Baumgart was sent off by referee, Sven Jablonski for foul language and a wayward middle finger. <\/span><\/p>\n

A sideline ban and \u20ac15,000 fine means the former HSV coach will have to orchestrate Union from a distance.<\/span><\/p>\n

After missing last week through suspension, Tom Rothe is likely to return to the starting line-up in defence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Danilho Doekhi and Leopold Querfeld will certainly be called upon again in the three-man defense in front of Frederik R\u00f6nnow. Diogo Leite is also in contention to start.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hamburger SV<\/h2>\n

After the opening day 0-0 draw to Monchengladbach in August, alarm bells were ringing at Hamburger SV.<\/p>\n

HSV had not scored a league goal until last week and registered just 10 shots on target in their opening three games.<\/p>\n

The win at home to Heidenheim will have settled some nerves but the visitors still dominated possession, chances, and forward passes.<\/p>\n

Clinical finishing from Luka Vuskovic and Rayan Philippe gave HSV a vital confidence boost.<\/p>\n

Vuskovic is a slight doubt through injury and HSV will also be without Yussuf Poulsen (thigh) Jordan Torunarigha (Achilles tendon) and Silvan Hefti (thigh).<\/p>\n

This may free up Fabio Vieira to play a more advanced midfield role to support Ransford Kongsdorffer in game that will be characterised by an open, end-to-end style.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

Head-to-head<\/h2>\n
\n

Whilst Sunday will be the first time the two sides play eachother in the Bundesliga (7:30 p.m.) <\/a><\/span>, it is 102 years since their first battle. <\/span><\/p>\n

In 1923, HSV played Union Berlin in the final of the German championship. <\/span><\/p>\n

As champions of the Association of Brandenburger Ballspielvereine (Brandenburg Football Clubs), the then SC Union Obersch\u00f6neweide eliminated 1. Bielefelder FC Arminia in the quarterfinals and sprung a surprised in the semifinals with a victory over heavy favourites, Spielvereinigung F\u00fcrth. <\/span><\/p>\n

In the final, HSV ran out comfortable winners, 3-0.<\/span><\/p>\n

Recently, Union Berlin have been the side to beat, running out 2-0 winners in 2019 thanks to two second half goals.<\/p>\n

However, this game has special significance for Baumgart.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

He was fired from HSV in November of last year after throwing away a two goal lead in a 2-2 draw against FC Schalke 04.<\/span><\/p>\n

The team had lost 4-2 at Elversberg and 3-1 at Braunschweig in the weeks prior. <\/span><\/p>\n

Assistant coach Merlin Polzin then took over the promotion mission and successfully secured it after seven long years of waiting. This week, Polzin spoke highly of his former boss. <\/span><\/p>\n

“He was a guiding light, especially for me as a very young coach. Steffen gave me maximum support during the time I was earning my UEFA Pro license, which is another reason why I am very grateful for our collaboration.”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

This weekend, Baumgart will be supporting Union Berlin from the stands and hoping his guiding light does not shine too brightly for HSV.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

GGFN<\/a> | Oscar O’Mara<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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