Hamburg narrowly missed out on the Champions League with a fourth-place finish last season, but this year they have title aspirations that begin against reigning 2. Bundesliga champions Freiburg on Sunday at Badenova-Stadion.
The second-division winners added Wolfsburg midfielder Cedric Makiadi to the ranks in the offseason along with Felix Bastians (Young Boys) and Cha Du-Ri (Koblenz). Hamburg were also quite active, adding Lazio and Czech Republic defender David Rozehnal, Bayern Munich midfielder Zé Roberto, and promising young Swedish striker Marcus Berg from Groningen. Berg is expected to help fill the shoes left by Ivica Olic's transfer to Bayern Munich.
Freiburg have two injury problems heading into Sunday's match as Ömer Toprak (burns) and Eke Uzoma (hip) will miss the opener. Alex Silva (knee), Bastian Reinhardt (foot), Miroslav Stepanek (knee), and Eljero Elia (kneecap) will miss for Hamburg.
It is unclear if Freiburg will have the squad to stay up in the top flight this season, and Hamburg should be able to use their quality and skill to earn a road victory to open the season.
REVIEW:
A 65th-minute goal by Tommy Bechmann earned newly-promoted Freiburg a well-deserved 1-1 draw at home against Hamburg in their opening fixture of the 2009/10 Bundesliga season.
Last year's 2. Bundesliga champions fell behind very early on after a defensive lapse in the third minute. Freiburg failed to clear a corner kick by Piotr Trochowski, and the ball fell to the feet of Burkina Faso midfielder Jonathan Pitroipa, and he made no mistake from inside the area.
But Freiburg were determined to get a result from their opening home fixture of the season, and they got what they were after on 65 minutes when Bechmann broke through and lifted one high into the goal to equalize.
Freiburg's task will be no easier on Saturday when they travel to VfB Stuttgart, and Hamburg will play host to Borussia Dortmund before their Europa League tie with French Cup winners Guingamp.