Hamburger SV vs. Heidenheim preview: Early relegation six-pointer

It has been a difficult return to Bundesliga life for Merlin Polzin’s men, who were thrashed 5-0 by champions Bayern Munich last weekend and remain without a goal after three league fixtures.

Creating chances has been HSV’s biggest issue. They have produced just one big chance this season, generated the lowest expected goals (1.3) in the league, and average only two shots on target per match.

The Volksparkstadion was a stronghold last season with just two defeats in 17 home league games, but a 2-0 derby defeat to St. Pauli in their 2025/26 home opener has already dented that aura. With a tough run of fixtures ahead, victory against Heidenheim feels vital.

Yussuf Poulsen remains sidelined with a thigh injury until mid-October, leaving Robert Glatzel to lead the line. Nicolai Remberg and Nicolas Capaldo are expected to continue as the midfield pairing, having started all three Bundesliga games so far.

Predicted lineup – 3-4-2-1: Fernandes – Omari, Vuskovic. Torunarigha – Gocholeishvili, Capaldo, Rember, Muheim – Viera, Dompe – Glatzel

Frank Schmidt marked his 18th anniversary in charge this week, but his side arrive in Hamburg at the bottom of the table after three straight defeats. Their latest setback was a 2-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund, where Budu Zivzivadze’s early red card left them chasing shadows.

Heidenheim have struggled in this fixture historically, winless in their last five meetings with HSV and failing to score in four of those. With only one goal scored and seven conceded so far this campaign, Schmidt faces an uphill task to spark his team into life.