Hamburg vs. Bayern Munich: Key Issues That Will Shape Bundesliga Game
Following Wednesday's Champions League win against Manchester City, Bayern Munich resume their Bundesliga campaign as they take on Hamburg this Saturday.
The Bavarian giants are tied for first place in the league table with Leverkusen and Hannover, all three teams having earned seven points thus far. HSV are last in the table with just one point and a minus-five goal difference after three games.
As the two-time defending champions prepare to meet the side that narrowly avoided relegation last season, B/R takes a look at the key points that could tip the game one way or another. Click Begin Slideshow for closer analysis.
Robert Lewandowski's Confidence
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As he approaches the end of the second month of his competitive career at Bayern, Robert Lewandowski still has scored just one goal. The summer's big signing from Dortmund has appeared in six competitive matches for Bayern, but his strike against Schalke remains his only shot to find the net this term, at least at club level.
Lewandowski has abundant class that he showed throughout his final three seasons at the Signal Iduna Park. And when he scored four goals for Poland during a recent Euro 2016 qualifier against Gibraltar, it looked as though he may have turned the corner and found his shooting boots once more. Two games for Bayern later, however, he still stands with one goal.
To his credit, the 26-year-old has made himself useful to the Bayern attack by providing three assists. But he still has some distance to go. In Hamburg he will face the Bundesliga's worst defense of 2013-14 (HSV conceded a remarkable 75 goals, five higher than relegated Nurnberg and 15 more than also-relegated Braunschweig), so there can be no better opposition for him to face as he looks to make a breakthrough.
Battle of Natural Rivals Holtby and Rode
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Born a month apart in the fall of 1990, central midfielders Lewis Holtby and Sebastian Rode are natural rivals. As fate would have it, though, the two have had very different experiences in their young careers.
During his youth, Rode suffered from repeated knee injuries that stifled his development. He was sidelined from early September 2009 to the end of March 2010 due to a cruciate ligament tear. After returning to training, in September of 2010 he sustained another knee injury that kept him out until January of 2011.
Accordingly, Rode stayed under the radar as a talent for much of his youth and only made 12 appearances for Germany's youth national teams, from under-18 to under-21. He has over the last two seasons emerged as a big talent and is proving himself in Munich with each passing week.
Holtby, by contrast, was generally fit in his youth and played a big role in the German youth national teams. He made 44 appearances for the German under-18 to under-21 sides. Holtby was promoted to the under-21 team before his 19th birthday and later became captain; he was capped for the first time just two months after his 20th birthday and has made three caps in total.
If Rode had a rough start to his career and has taken a positive trajectory in recent years, Holtby's path has been exactly the opposite. He struggled to replicate his Mainz form at Schalke, and after leaving Schalke for Tottenham in January of 2013, he has utterly failed to deliver on the promise he once had. Spurs sent him on loan to Fulham, and now have sent him to Hamburg where he hopes to revive his career.
Rode comes into the Hamburg match with much better form, but Holtby has shown in the past that he's able to more than equal the ex-Frankfurt man. They'll likely go head-to-head on Saturday, both in central midfield. It's a big chance for Holtby to prove he's worth Hamburg's faith, and for Rode to make another statement that he can hold his own in a Bayern squad that is stacked with quality in the center of the pitch.
Robben's Fitness
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Arjen Robben looked bright against Manchester City on Wednesday, but he was not fit enough to decide the match. The Dutchman came on as a second-half substitute and carved the City defense to pieces at times. Had he had 90 minutes to play, could well have made it a comfortable win for Bayern. As a substitute, however, he couldn't quite provide the lethal blow. Jerome Boateng did.
Since Wednesday, Robben has gained some match practice and had a few more days to recover fitness. He'll be healthier and perhaps more confident as Bayern prepare to take on HSV, although the occasion will be less demanding and not quite as inspirational for the mercurial attacker.
Exactly how Pep Guardiola will use Robben is yet uncertain. He may come on as a substitute at half-time or mid-way through the second period, but a start is not out of the question. One thing is certain; the longer he can play, the more likely Bayern are to run riot.
Green's Nerve Against His Parent Club
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Julian Green may have a chance to run out against his parent club, Bayern, in Saturday's match. Sent to Hamburg on loan shortly prior to the close of the summer transfer window, the 19-year-old made his debut under Mirko Slomka as a starter in Bundesliga Matchday 3. He was withdrawn at half-time.
Slomka has since been dismissed, and it is unsure as to how Hamburg will line up on Saturday. Green may start again; if not, he should at least expect to earn some minutes off the bench. Facing his parent club and the out-and-out favorites for the Bundesliga title will be especially challenging for Green, who will need to keep his nerves under control.
To his credit, Green showed he has cool nerves in Brazil this summer. After sitting on the bench throughout the United States' World Cup campaign prior, the former Germany under-19 international came on as a substitute against Belgium and scored with his first touch: A delicate volley that was the only shot of the game to beat Thibaut Courtois.
Facing a strong Bayern side, Green won't have many opportunities. And he'll again have a world-class goalkeeper to contend with in Manuel Neuer. The youngster will have to once again show he has cool nerves if he is to make a difference.
