Niko Kovač knows exactly what awaits Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, but that does not mean BVB are heading to Munich without belief.
For the first time in a long time, Dortmund will travel to the Allianz Arena level on points with Bayern Munich, adding another layer of intrigue to an already massive Der Klassiker. Kovač recognizes the opportunity whi
"After a very, very long time, we have the opportunity to travel to Munich and play a game in which we are level on points. That certainly makes things much more exciting, but no less difficult. Bayern Munich are the benchmark, not just in Germany but also in Europe. We have to perform at the very highest level. The bar is set high, but of course, we have the ambition to come away with something. We are BVB, we have our own standards, and we want to live up to them," Kovač said (as captured by iMiaSanMia).
There is no shortage of respect for Bayern Munich from Kovač, but Dortmund are not making the trip simply to admire the opposition. They want to compete, challenge, and prove they belong at the top of the Bundesliga.
Saturday should be a fascinating test of the respective ambitions for both sides.

#long

Borussia Dortmund are preparing for a massive top-of-the-table showdown against Bayern Munich this weekend as both sides look to break their current deadlock at the summit. Head coach Niko Kovac has acknowledged the significant threat posed by the record champions, specifically highlighting the form of their star forward.
Kovac has offered high praise for Kane as Dortmund prepare to face a Bayern side led by the newly crowned Ballon d'Or winner. The England captain has continued his devastating form in Germany, prompting the Dortmund boss to recognize the sheer scale of the task facing his defense on Saturday. Kovac noted that the striker's recent accolades speak for themselves, emphasizing that he has successfully reached a new level since moving to the Bundesliga.
"There's no need to say a word about him. The mere fact that he received this ****** le says everything about him. He was already a top player in England. To take another leap forward now is sensational," said Kovac on the club's official website
The stakes could not be higher for this edition of Der Klassiker, with both teams currently tied on 17 points after seven matchdays. While Bayern hold the top spot due to a superior goal difference, Dortmund have the opportunity to leapfrog their rivals. Kovac believes the current competitiveness at the top is a breath of fresh air for the league. However, the coach warned that excitement does not equate to an easy path to victory. He demanded absolute focus from his squad, stressing that only their best football would suffice in Munich.
"This certainly makes things a lot more exciting than in recent years. But that doesn't make it any easier, because FC Bayern Munich is undoubtedly the best of the best—not just in Germany, but also in Europe. We have to play at the very highest level. But we're Dortmund—we have our own standards, and we intend to live up to them," Kovac insisted.

#dortmund #best #germany #form

Michael Olise has developed into one of the world's best players since joining Bayern Munich from Crystal Palace in a €53 million deal in the summer of 2024.
However, the French international could have taken a very different path, with Bild revealing that Borussia Dortmund were also interested in signing him at the time.
According to the German tabloid's "Dortmund Insider" podcast, the Black and Yellows had Olise on their wishlist in 2024 and made specific enquiries about signing him.
But just as Dortmund were exploring the possible terms of a deal, Bayern entered the race. BVB were ultimately left empty-handed, unable to match the €53 million transfer fee.
However, just as they were exploring the possible terms of a deal, Bayern Munich entered the race. Dortmund were left empty-handed, as they could not afford the €53 million transfer fee.

#dortmund #deal #olise #however

Matchday 8 of the Bundesliga serves up it's showpiece event, from which Bulinews.com will be reporting live, as Bayern Munich welcome Borussia Dortmund to the Allianz Arena. Kick-off in the Topspiel game is scheduled for 18:30 CET.
Aside from injuries and Vincent Kompany's absence, things could hardly be much better for Bayern right now. They arrive into this fixture off the back of a 6-1 thrashing of 1.FC Magdeburg, with several key names rested.
One of which was their newly crowned Ballon d'Or winner, Harry Kane. Averaging a goal a game against BVB in six games to date, he will be hoping to add to that. The returning Kimmich and Pavlovic will likely help towards that.
The German record champions' recent record on home soil against the Westphalians also bodes well. Eight wins, one draw and a single loss to the Black and Yellows in their last 10 Bundesliga meetings at the Allianz Arena.
Team news:

#bayern #allianz #record

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has revealed that a pre-planned rest rather than excessive celebrations kept him on the bench during Wednesday night's emphatic 6-1 DFB-Pokal victory over Magdeburg. Having lifted the Ballon d'Or in London on Monday evening, the 33-year-old England captain watched on as an unused substitute in midweek.
Kane confirmed that Bayern coaching staff had already scheduled his midweek breather prior to Monday's ceremony, where he beat Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal to become England's first winner since Michael Owen in 2001. Although ready to feature if required, the veteran marksman was spared as Michael Olise netted a brace. Consequently, the forward was able to recover from a few exhausting days.
Speaking as quoted by TNT Sports, Kane explained the decision behind his omission: "I didn't party too hard! I could have played, but to be honest, Danksy [Bayern **** istant Aaron Danks] spoke to me and said they were thinking of trying to give me a break in this game, even before the Ballon d'Or, because I've played a lot of games in the last six weeks or so.
"It just worked well, the guys who started did really well. There was a moment in the game where he was thinking of bringing me on and we scored the fourth goal and killed the game off. All in all, I think it was important to get a rest. It's been a big emotional load, going through the big high on Monday.
"Big game on Saturday now as well [against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga], so I'll train tomorrow and be ready for that."

#ballon #Monday #rest #midweek

Jürgen Klopp will announce his Germany squad on Thursday, November 5th, for the national team's final two UEFA Nations League group-stage matches of the year per iMiaSanMia.
Germany faces a trip to Belgrade to take on Serbia on November 13th before returning home to Berlin for a highly anticipated clash against the Netherlands on November 16th. Both fixtures will provide Klopp with another opportunity to evaluate his options as he continues shaping the national team in his first year in charge.
There will be plenty of intrigue surrounding Klopp's selections, particularly as Germany looks to finish the group stage strongly. Will the former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager stick with the players who have featured in his previous camps, or will he introduce some fresh faces for the final international break of 2026? Certainly, he will have to take fewer players than he called up in September.
The squad announcement will also offer a clearer picture of Klopp's preferred core of players moving forward, with competition for starting places still wide open in several positions.
Germany has two important tests ahead, and Klopp will want to see his team deliver consistent performances against challenging opposition.

#germany #klopp #november #year

After bringing virtually everyone back last summer, the OKC Thunder made several changes to its roster this time around.
Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins have been traded away. All three helped OKC win a 2025 NBA championship, and their departures will create new opportunities for those still on the team.
Cason Wallace figures to take on a starting role. Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain will be tasked with providing a scoring punch. And the Thunder will also integrate rookies Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz, Otega Oweh and Josh Dix.
Here are stat predictions for every Thunder player this NBA season:
OKC Thunder schedule release 2026-27: See all 82 NBA game times, TV channels

#cason #mitchell

Germany great Lothar Matthäus has called for the return of Niclas Füllkrug to the national team.
"The numbers speak for him, even if he's at a certain age. Jürgen Klopp wants to rejuvenate the national team, but the young players still have too much fluctuation in their performance," Matthäus wrote in his column for broadcaster Sky on Sunday evening.
"A experienced player such as Füllkrug would bring in a good feeling," he added.
Füllkrug returned to Werder Bremen this season, a club he left in 2023 to join Borussia Dortmund. In 2024, he moved to West Ham, but struggled due to injuries.
He's at Bremen on a loan from the Premier League side and has scored seven goals in seven games across all competitions so far.

#matth #team

The OKC Thunder agreed to a five-year, $139 million rookie-scale contract extension with Cason Wallace on Sunday. ESPN's Shams Charania first reported the news.
Wallace averaged career highs of 8.6 points and 2.6 **** ists last season on 43.2% shooting from the field (35.1% from deep). He also recorded a league-leading 150 steals and earned an All-Defensive second team selection.
More: Lu Dort reflects on OKC Thunder legacy as 'new chapter' with Atlanta Hawks begins
OKC had until Monday to sign Wallace to a new deal and avoid him hitting restricted free agency next summer. It's a sign of confidence in the 22-year-old guard, who'll serve as the Thunder's top point-of-attack defender now that Lu Dort is gone.
It's also a sign of commitment from OKC's ownership group after the team made cost-cutting moves this summer. The Thunder traded Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe in three separate deals for a combined seven second-round picks and didn't get any players in return. That helped it position itself $6.9 million underneath the second apron with one standard roster spot still open.

#sign #cason

The OKC Thunder agreed to a five-year, $139 million rookie-scale contract extension with Cason Wallace on Sunday. ESPN's Shams Charania first reported the news.
Wallace averaged career highs of 8.6 points and 2.6 **** ists last season on 43.2% shooting from the field (35.1% from deep). He also recorded a league-leading 150 steals and earned an All-Defensive second team selection.
More: Lu Dort reflects on OKC Thunder legacy as 'new chapter' with Atlanta Hawks begins
OKC had until Monday to sign Wallace to a new deal and avoid him hitting restricted free agency next summer. It's a sign of confidence in the 22-year-old guard, who'll serve as the Thunder's top point-of-attack defender now that Lu Dort is gone.
It's also a sign of commitment from OKC's ownership group after the team made cost-cutting moves this summer. The Thunder traded Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe in three separate deals for a combined seven second-round picks and didn't get any players in return. That helped it position itself $6.9 million underneath the second apron with one standard roster spot still open.

#year #team

While the transfer window may be shut, Ajax are not quite done yet in reinforcing the squad. According to De Telegraaf, Ajax are just one of a number of sides keen on signing now former Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma. The 30-year-old is a free agent, having left Tottenham this summer. Other sides from top five leagues are interested in the former Tottenham man, so it is by no means guaranteed that Ajax will land the Malian international.
Yet Ajax have shown an ability to pull in some big named players this summer. Julian Brandt left Borussia Dortmund for Ajax during the recent transfer window and is already proving to be a good signing for the Dutch side.
Bissouma, when fit, would certainly add some quality to the Ajax midfield. Last year the Malian only managed 11 games for Tottenham. Overall, he played 111 games for Tottenham, scoring twice. Prior to that he excelled with Brighton after coming through the Lille system, having moved to France from Real Bamako as a teenager.
GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson

#ajax #year

Three of the four teams that reached the third Bundesliga matchday with a 100% record were in action on Saturday morning (12).
And two of them picked up another win, continuing to share top spot in the league.
Borussia Dortmund beat newly promoted Paderborn, while Freiburg thrashed Borussia Mönchengladbach.
The exception was Augsburg, who started the day in first place but conceded a late equalizer to Bayer Leverkusen.
Elversberg could also end the round with nine points from three matches, as they face Bayern Munich this Sunday (13).

#saturday

Borussia Dortmund entertain neighbors Paderborn on matchday 3. The hosts extended their perfect league start to the Bundesliga season with a narrow win over Villarreal in the Champions League. Meanwhile, Paderborn are yet to score on their return to the top-flight league.
Konstantinos Karetsas was discharged from the hospital after Tuesday's incident, but this game came too early for him. Ethan Nwaneri gets his first start in Niko Kovac's midfield for the Westphalian affair. Nico Schlotterbeck is also back in the lineup for the very first time.
Paderborn's striker Steffen Tigges starts on the bench in his return to his former club Dortmund. At the other end, goalkeeper Nahuel Noll hopes to continue his brilliant start to the campaign.
Here are the lineups as Borussia Dortmund aim to continue their perfect Bundesliga start.
BVB: Kobel; Gadou, Anton, Schlotterbeck ©; Ryerson, Veerman, Bellingham, Svensson; Nwaneri; Guirassy, Fabio Silva

#borussia #paderborn

"He knows his role in the team. Serhou Guirassy is our number one striker. He is the challenger." With these clear words, Niko Kovač made it plain at the press conference ahead of the season opener against Hamburger SV who is in charge in Dortmund's attack. But in football, two weeks can feel like an eternity. By now, the black-and-yellow world looks very different.
Because Fabio Silva has now become so important that he could even prompt a system change at Dortmund. Guirassy himself also raved about his competitor. "Fabio Silva and I really enjoy playing together and we have a lot of fun in training. He is a great player," he said after the Champions League win against Villarreal to the microphone of 'Amazon Prime'.
You can see what else the two say about each other here in the video.
Coach Kovač was also full of praise after the win against the Spaniards. Fabio Silva repeatedly worked his way into clear-cut chances and rewarded himself for his effort. "You can see that we can play this system with two strikers just as well as with one striker. If we now add Fabio (Silva, editor's note) alongside Serhou (Guirassy, editor's note) too - and we will - then we really have something special," said the BVB coach happily.
Few would probably have expected the Portuguese forward to be receiving this kind of praise right now. In the summer, there were rumors about a transfer because Silva had only rarely been able to meet expectations. According to 'Sky', the Bundesliga club would have been open to talks starting at a fee of 20 million euros. Both a loan and a sale were reportedly considered.

#serhou #coach #clear #himself

Borussia Dortmund will face newly promoted SC Paderborn 07 at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday in their next Bundesliga fixture.
Dortmund go into the game in outstanding form, having secured victories in each of their last four matches across all competitions. Under the guidance of head coach Niko Kovač, the Black and Yellows have collected the maximum six points from their opening two Bundesliga matches and are firmly positioned close to the top of the standings. Their latest league appearance produced an exciting 3-2 away win against TSG Hoffenheim, while they followed that result with another narrow 3-2 victory over Villarreal CF in their midweek UEFA Champions League opener.
The German side have also been handed a significant boost in defence before the encounter, although Kovač still has to deal with a number of important absences.
Nico Schlotterbeck and Ramy Bensebaini have both recovered from their respective ankle and rib problems, providing welcome news for the Dortmund backline.
The pair returned to full team training during the week, and Kovač confirmed that both defenders are fit and ready to challenge for places in the starting XI.

#paderborn

The brass at La Liga giants Real Madrid are ready to offer a significant salary increase to midfield standout Jude Bellingham. This comes as Florentino Pérez and co. prepare to ramp up efforts to tie the Englishman down for the long-term.
Bellingham is for his part of course fresh off a superb opening to the new campaign. After lighting up the World Cup with Thomas Tuchel's England, the former Borussia Dortmund man was quickly afforded a central berth in the setup of new Real Madrid boss José Mourinho.
And Bellingham has since responded with a string of fine performances, giving rise to four direct goal contributions in four La Liga appearances.
Widespread confirmation has in turn surfaced over recent days that the Bernabéu hierarchy are ready to afford their all-action engine room star a new contract.
And as alluded to above, on Friday, further insight into the situation has been provided. The info comes courtesy of Blancos journalist Jorge C Picon, who reports:

#bellingham #real #comes #jude

Borussia Dortmund will be without Konstantinos Karetsas for Saturday's Bundesliga home fixture against SC Paderborn as further examinations continue following the 18-year-old's worrying withdrawal from Tuesday's Champions League victory over Villarreal. Karetsas has since been released from hospital after suffering circulatory problems during Dortmund's 3-2 win at the Westfalenstadion.
The Greek international did not participate in team training on Thursday and will not be available for the weekend. Dortmund sporting director Ole Book has now confirmed that initial examinations have yet to establish a specific cause.
"He is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances," Book told the local Ruhr Nachrichten newspaper. "Further examinations are ongoing. We want to get to the bottom of this properly. The prognosis will then depend on that."
Book emphasized that Karetsas' health remains the club's overriding concern.
While Karetsas' mother Irena Kitsinis told Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad that the episode appeared to have been related to dehydration, Dortmund have not yet established a definitive explanation for the problem.

#book #told

The two top matches follow at 6:30 p.m. against Eintracht Frankfurt (24 October) and away to Bayern Munich (31 October).
Before and after the November international break, BVB will again be in action at the traditional kick-off time of 3:30 p.m.: first at home against Elversberg (7 November), then away at Borussia Mönchengladbach (21 November). At the end of November, BVB and Bayer Leverkusen will round off Matchday 11 of the Bundesliga on Sunday evening (29 November) at 7:30 p.m.
The next date in the DFB-Pokal has also been confirmed: Earlier today, Thursday, the DFB announced the match dates for the second round proper. Borussia Dortmund will face Werder Bremen at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK on 27 October at 8:45 p.m.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

#october #round #munich

"Under the circumstances, he is doing well. Further examinations are underway, and we want to get to the bottom of the matter very precisely," Ole Book said on Thursday about Konstantinos Karetsas' health condition.
Only once the additional examinations have been completed will there be further forecasts regarding the 18-year-old. However, the BVB sporting director emphasizes: "It is clear that, for the time being, we are putting the health of the person and the player first. He will not be involved this weekend."
On Tuesday evening, Konstantinos Karetsas had taken to the pitch for Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League for the first time during the home match against FC Villarreal. Midway through the first half, the 18-year-old suddenly complained of circulatory problems and was substituted in the 27th minute. Karetsas was then taken to hospital for further examinations.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

#examinations

Inter are ready to take center stage in the Champions League once again. After the League Phase draw, the Nerazzurri discovered their path in Europe's top competition, which has already thrown up at least a couple of thrilling matchups!
The Italian champions are heading back to the Bernabeu, the stadium where in May 2010 captain Zanetti and his teammates lifted the third Champions League ******* le in the Nerazzurri's history, 45 years after their second. Back then, José Mourinho was in charge of Inter, but this time he will be on the other side, in the Real dugout.
But Chivu's team will also face two tough games against Liverpool and Dortmund, which will in all likelihood play a major role in their chances of direct qualification.
Matchday 1 (September 8, 2026, 9:00 PM): Real Madrid vs Inter.
Matchday 2 (October 13, 2026, 9:00 PM): Inter vs Club Brugge.

#Inter #league #real #phase

Arsenal have several top defenders in their squad, but they are not satisfied and want more quality in that area, which has led to a reported interest in Borussia Dortmund left-back Daniel Svensson.
The Swede is regarded as one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga and is being monitored by several top teams, including AC Milan and Juventus. The Gunners are also interested in bringing him to the Emirates, despite already having several options available in his position.
The left back position is not an area where **** nal currently struggle, with Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapié both capable of playing there. Myles Lewis Skelly can also operate in the position, giving the Gunners several options within their squad.
However, **** nal have shown over the last few seasons that they are a team determined to improve constantly. The Gunners believe Svensson could bring new qualities to the position and potentially provide another option as they continue to strengthen their squad.
(Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

#arsenal #gunners #defenders

Borussia Dortmund will look to make it four wins in a row in the new season when they host Villarreal in their opening UEFA Champions League fixture on Tuesday at the Signal Iduna Park.
Date: Tuesday, 8th September.
Kick-off: 8pm BST.
Venue: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund.
Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovač faces a significant defensive crisis ahead of this opening fixture, with several key players ruled out.

#signal

Juventus have been linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund full-back Daniel Svensson, as the Swede continues to impress at the German club and could be allowed to leave if the right offer arrives.
Juve had a busy summer transfer window, but in the final days, they were keen to sign a new left back and hoped they could push Juan Cabal out of the squad, as he was wanted by Atalanta. However, that move never happened because Cabal's transfer did not go through.
Despite Cabal remaining at Juve, the Bianconeri continue to keep an eye on potential options for the position. Svensson has now emerged as one of the players attracting their attention, with his performances for Borussia Dortmund making him an appealing target.
The Swede has continued to shine at BVB, and his form has understandably attracted interest from other clubs. Juventus are now considering whether he could be the right player to strengthen their options at left back, although any potential deal would require a significant financial commitment.
(Photo by Pau Barrena/Getty Images)

#dortmund #svensson #swede

Borussia Dortmund "remain keen" on the prospect of bringing Jadon Sancho back to the club, according to a report from TEAMtalk.
The 26-year-old is still searching for a new club after leaving Manchester United and is free to join any team he wants despite the transfer window being closed, as he is currently a free agent.
Although Dortmund responded to Giannis Konstantelias' long-term injury by bringing in Ethan Nwaneri on loan from ******* nal on deadline day, the German club are still considering a move to bring Sancho back, if the report is to be believed.
It's also claimed that Sancho is in talks with at least two Premier League clubs, who have made fresh approaches for the England international in recent days.
Clubs from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE are reportedly also monitoring Sancho's situation.

#clubs

It was recently reported that **** nal have an option to recall Ethan Nwaneri from his loan spell at Borussia Dortmund during the January transfer window.
However, local outlet Ruhr Nachrichten has now provided further clarity on the situation and revealed two key details of the agreement.
According to the German publication, **** nal are contractually unable to activate the recall clause at short notice during the transfer window and must "announce the recall well in advance".
While there is no specific deadline, the London club must make their intentions clear "well before the start of the transfer window".
Another important detail is that, should **** nal choose to exercise their recall option, the loan fee would be reduced to zero. In addition, the Gunners would have to cover the full salary of the England U21 international.

#recall #loan #well #ethan

2
Manchester United's priority during the final days of the summer transfer window was to bring in a left-back.
Their primary target was Lewis Hall of Newcastle United, but the Magpies refused to consider his sale and are now close to reaching an agreement with him over a contract renewal, making it difficult for United to revisit their interest.
However, United's recruitment team have reportedly started to explore other options before the next window opens.
According to Fussballdaten, Borussia Dortmund left-back Daniel Svensson is starting to attract the interest of Europe's biggest clubs.

#interest #hall

Ajay Mitchell predicted to become one of the breakout players of the 2026-27 NBA season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have made some major changes ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season. Of course, the core players are still there, but it does mean that Ajay Mitchell is set for a bigger role. He will play a massive role in the backcourt alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
It is yet to be decided whether he will be the starter alongside SGA, as he will be competing against Cason Wallace for that role. Even if he plays off the bench, Mitchell will be a big part of the Thunder's potential success in the 2026-27 season.
With rotation players like Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, and Lu Dort all leaving the Thunder, the team needs a boost from the remaining players. Mitchell must play a big role because they need his contributions on both sides of the floor.
He is a decent defender who can fill the Dort void, but he will be mainly relied upon for his offensive contributions. Mitchell is a natural scorer who can create his own opportunities, but he can also set his teammates up with good passes.

#play

Hamburger SV head coach Merlin Polzin offered no excuses after his heavily rebuilt side suffered a horrendous 0-5 home defeat to Mainz 05 on Sunday afternoon.
Hamburg entered their first home Bundesliga fixture of the season looking to respond to their 2-0 opening-day defeat away at Borussia Dortmund. Instead, the afternoon developed into one of the club's worst top-flight home performances in decades.
Sunday's defeat also leaves Polzin's side without either a point or a goal after two league fixtures.
"The result speaks for itself," Polzin remarked in his opening press-conference statement. "It was a totally **** afternoon for us. It was a thoroughly deserved loss. There's no need to sugarcoat anything or attempt to explain anything so soon after the game when the emotions are still running high."
The scale of the defeat proved particularly striking given how aggressively Hamburg strengthened their squad during the closing stages of the summer transfer window. The club entered the season with several unresolved personnel questions, many of which were examined in GGFN's 2026/27 tactical preview of Hamburg.

#entered #season #anything

Merlin Polzin led his new-look Hamburg side out for their first home league fixture at the Volksparkstadion on Sunday afternoon, hosting a Mainz team with a familiar feel to them.
As Nicolai Remberg and Nadiem Amiri led their teams onto the pitch, Hamburg's Nordtribüne paid a touching tribute to the late Kevin Keegan with a wonderful choreo before kick-off. The Englishman, revered in the Hanseatic City after his exploits in the late 70s, sadly passed away in July.
Hamburg suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Borussia Dortmund on the opening day, and Polzin saw fit to make four changes to the starting XI that turned out in the Ruhrgebiet. A busy deadline day saw three new arrivals at the Volksparkstadion, with David Møller Wolfe and Zakaria El Ouahdi thrown straight in for their debuts; Fabio Vieira, meanwhile, began on the bench.
The visitors made two changes themselves to their starting XI that drew 0-0 at home to newly promoted Paderborn last weekend, with Kacper Potulski and Stefan Posch replacing Dominik Kohr and Danny Da Costa in defence.
Urs Fischer's side made the stronger start to the game, with a mistake from Jordan Torunarigha allowing Sheraldo Becker to force a good save from Daniel Heuer Fernandes within the first ten minutes. Moments later, Mainz worked a good opportunity from a corner for Amiri to strike at goal, though the German international sliced his effort wide.

#hamburg #amiri #home #away

Hamburger SV's lacklustre start to the new Bundesliga season continued this afternoon on home soil. In the Hanseatic sun, an FSV Mainz 05 side inspired by the brilliance of Sheraldo Becker and Phillip Tietz ran out comfortable winners on a 5-0 scoreline.
Similar to their opening day struggles in Dortmund, the hosts seemed to struggle as Mainz piled on the pressure. Sheraldo Becker stung the palms of Daniel Heuer Fernandes, before Nadiem Amiri fired wide on the end of a neat set-piece routine inside 15 minutes.
The warning signs were clear and HSV took no heed of it as an atmospheric Volksparkstadion fell momentarily silent. A misplaced pass from skipper Nicolai Remberg was picked off by Kaishu Sano. From there, he played in Becker who dispatched from a one-on-one scenario.
Aside from the occasional threat of Albert Grønbaek, HSV failed to even test debutante Alexander Schwolow before the break. Mainz swiftly led 2-0 when Nadiem Amiri pulled the strings in midfield for Becker to find **** e and deliver a routine tap-in for Philipp Mwene.
Half-time whistles from supporters forced Merlin Polzin's hand at the break. Torunarigha, Nadir and Adeline departed for Shafiq Nandja, Patson Daka and Fábio Vieira. The latter receiving a massive cheer since returning on a permanent basis from **** nal.

#nadiem #break #hamburger #bundesliga