After a seven-year wait, Hamburg SV are back in the Bundesliga and set to face an old rival, Bayern Munich. While Hamburg has historically struggled in Munich, often losing by large margins, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany believes this upcoming match will be different. Kompany is focused on the present, highlighting Hamburg’s confidence after winning promotion from the second division. He sees this momentum as a bigger factor than their past poor results at Bayern’s home ground.
🤔 A Fresh Start
Kompany has dismissed Hamburg’s difficult history at the Allianz Arena, where they let in 50 goals in their last eight visits. He stated that the past is irrelevant and that his team must be prepared for a confident opponent. “For us, we are always the favourites when playing at home,” Kompany said. “But it is a match against a team with a lot of confidence and motivation, following their promotion. They won a lot of matches last season.”
📊 Contrasting Form
Currently, the two teams are at opposite ends of the table. Champions Bayern have started the season perfectly with two wins and nine goals scored, placing them at the top. In contrast, newly-promoted Hamburg are still looking for their first victory after a loss to St Pauli and a draw with Borussia Monchengladbach.
📖 Kompany’s Personal History
The match holds personal significance for Kompany, who played for Hamburg for two injury-hit seasons until 2008. He shared that he decided to leave the club right after a match in Munich. The reason was not related to the club’s performance but because he was recalled from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he was representing Belgium, only to be left on the bench for the next game. “On principle, it was unacceptable,” he explained.
🗓️ Looking Ahead
Kompany won’t have much time to think about the past. After the clash with Hamburg, Bayern will immediately turn their attention to the Champions League, where they are set to host Chelsea in their opening group stage match next week.
