Hamburger
Hamburg are currently in 13th place with 16 points from as many games, which puts them four points clear of Hazard ahead of their midweek clash. HSV will enter Wednesday’s game without a win in three consecutive games after losing 4-1 away to Hoffenheim. They then drew 1-1 with Eintracht Frankfurt to close out 2025, but were defeated 2-1 by Freiburg in the first game of the new year.
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Luka Vuskovic broke the deadlock at the Europa Park before Daniel Elfadli awarded a penalty and received a second yellow card. Vincenzo Grifo scored the ensuing penalty and Igor Matanović netted the winning goal in the 83rd minute to end HSV’s four-game losing streak on the road.
With that in mind, Merlin Bolzin’s side will be looking forward to a return to the Volkspark where they have avoided defeat in their last four Bundesliga games. In fact, all four of their league wins this season have come at home.
Team News
The home team was unable to field the injured duo of Youssef Poulsen and Wormid Omari. Meanwhile, Daniel Elfadli will serve a one-match ban after being sent off at the weekend.
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Expected lineup: Fernandez; Capaldo, Vuskovic, Torunariga; Gocholeshvili, Lokonga, Lemberg, Muheim; Vieira, Dope, Downs
Bayer Leverkusen
Leverkusen defeated Cologne and Stuttgart consecutively and ended the 2025 winter break with high fighting spirit. However, they were unable to recover from their last performance, suffering a 4-1 defeat at home to Stuttgart on Saturday and conceding four goals in a disastrous first period at the Bayern Arena. As a result, Leverkusen ranked fourth, only ahead of fifth-placed Stuttgart on goal difference.
The German factory side may be hoping for a positive response in their first meeting with Hamburg since their 2-1 away win in February 2018. Kaspar Hulmand’s side have won five of their previous six official away games, with three of those wins coming without conceding.
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They have four wins, one draw and two losses in their seven away games in the Bundesliga. Leverkusen have become accustomed to producing their best attacking performances in the first period, having scored 11 goals in 15 away league games before the break.
Team News
Leverkusen were without the help of Axel Palacios and Axel Tape. Meanwhile, Christian Kofane and Ibrahim Maza have performed well in the Africa Cup of Nations recently and are unlikely to feature in the competition. Forward Elies Bensegier is still in the game as he prepares for Morocco’s semi-final against Nigeria.
Expected lineup: Flecken; Andric, Bader, Cusa; Arthur, Fernandez, Garcia, Grimaldo; Tillman, Poku; Schick
