Borussia Dortmund and Hamburger SV played two evenly matched contests last season. The question about their upcoming encounter is posed.
Both meetings in the previous campaign were closely fought. In the last match, Borussia Dortmund managed a notable comeback. The question of who will come out on top next time remains intriguing. A heading duel between Luka Vuskovic and Nico Schlotterbeck will not take place.
Borussia Dortmund finished the 2025 Bundesliga season in second place. Edin Terzić's team amassed 64 points from 29 games, with 19 wins, seven draws, and just three defeats. A goal record of 60 scored and 29 conceded gave them a +31 difference. This left BVB twelve points behind serial champions Bayern Munich. The recent form of one loss and four wins in the final five games of the concluded season indicates a strong finish.
The squad is currently preparing for the new season. The next official competitive fixture is the away match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on September 5, 2026. Hoffenheim finished the previous season in sixth place. Preparations are impacted by several absences. Alongside the aforementioned Nico Schlotterbeck, Carney Chukwuemeka and Ramy Bensebaini are also sidelined. Fans can track the exact injury status and return timelines on our injuries page.
The history from last season shows that games against Hamburger SV are no straightforward affair. The fact that both encounters were balanced highlights the quality of the opponent. For Borussia Dortmund, the task will be to stabilize the defense, especially considering the absence of key defender Schlotterbeck. The attack, which scored 60 goals last season, must maintain its efficiency.
Plans for the match and the entire pre-season can be followed on our fixtures page. The team lineup and squad details are available on the squad overview. The strong past league finish and positive goal difference provide grounds for optimism, but the tight contests against teams like Hamburg serve as a sign that every opponent in the Bundesliga is dangerous.
Immediately after the Hamburg game, focus shifts entirely to the Bundesliga kick-off. The away match in Hoffenheim on September 5th marks the first competitive test of the season. Preparation in the remaining days will be key to best compensate for the missing players and to achieve a rhythmic start to the new campaign. The previous season's table position, documented in our standings, shows the club's high ambition level. The challenge will be to maintain consistency over an entire season and reduce the gap to Bayern Munich.
