Hamburg have found life tough in recent Bundesliga seasons and have twice been forced to play in the relegation playoffs to ensure their survival. Having won the Bundesliga title and European Cup in 1982/83, Hamburg have failed to reach those heights again, with 7th place being the best they have achieved since 2009/10. Last season they finished 14th in the Bundesliga, which is not great but at least they avoided the relegation playoffs.
Their opponents in this Friday night Bundesliga match are RB Leipzig. The club have risen from nowhere in recent seasons to challenge at the top of the Bundesliga. They won promotion from the Regionalliga Nordost through to the Bundesliga in four seasons, winning promotion each time.
Last season they finished 2nd in the Bundesliga, which was an incredible achievement. The question is, can they sustain their progress or will Hamburg put a spanner in the works?
Hamburg vs RB Leipzig
German Bundesliga – Friday 8th September, 18:30
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Draw Best Odd of: 14/5 at Ladbrokes |
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Hamburg
RB LeipzigHamburg Form
Hamburg have started the season in excellent form and have taken maximum points from their 2 games played.
They began with a 1-0 home win against Augsburg and followed that up by defeating Koln away from home 3-1, which was a morale boosting victory at the start of the season.
Considering games towards the end of last season, Hamburg are undefeated in their last 5 Bundesliga matches and have won the last 3 games, 2 of which were at home.
Home form shows Hamburg have lost just 1 of their previous 13 Bundesliga matches and have become very difficult to beat on home soil.
RB Leipzig Form
This season was always going to be tough for RB Leipzig, having taken the Bundesliga by storm last season. Teams are now looking out for them and it showed as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Schalke on the opening weekend of the new campaign.
However, they bounced back well, defeating Freiburg 4-1 at home thanks to goals from Timo Werner, Willi Orban and Bruma.
Away from home, RB Leipzig have lost 1 of their last 5 Bundesliga games, which was the recent loss at Schalke. There have been wins over Mainz and Hertha Berlin plus draws with Schalke and Eintracht Frankfurt.
RB Leipzig have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 13 away Bundesliga matches.
Team News
Hamburg will be without the injured Nicolai Muller for this match and Aaron Hunt is also rated as doubtful. Central defender Mergim Mavraj is suspended.
RB Leipzig could have a full squad to choose from if everyone returns from international duty unscathed. The only doubts are forward Yussuf Poulsen and winger Marcel Sabitzer.
Top Betting Tips
Hamburg love to score goals at home and RB Leipzig have trouble keeping them out when on the road. This should make for a high scoring game and over 2.5 goals is on offer at 9/10 with Ladbrokes.
Hamburg will be keen to maintain their 100% start the season but RB Leipzig will be fully aware of their need to pick up points on the road. This match could easily end level with both teams scoring, which is available at 4/1 with Ladbrokes.
Looking at potential goal scorers and Timo Werner is in great form, having netted 9 goals in his last 8 games for club and country. Werner is 7/5 with Ladbrokes to score at any time.