BVB out for revenge against Hamburg

Borussia Dortmund welcomes SV Hamburg on Saturday as they seek to extend their perfect start with a fifth straight victory in the Bundesliga.

Juergen Klopp’s side has seen their momentum somewhat halted by the international break and will have reason to feel wary of a team who beat them twice last season including 4-1 in Dortmund.

Champions Juergen Klopp, two points behind Dortmund, is meanwhile at home to Hanover who is third, a further point behind after their best start to a Bundesliga season.

Bayer Leverkusen and Mainz, two other teams on nine points, have home games, against Wolfsburg and Schalke respectively.

Dortmund is hoping to have Robert Lewandowski fit after the striker pulled out of Poland’s World Cup qualify against San Marino with a knee injury.

Lewandowski himself has good reason to make up for the 4-1 home defeat to Hamburg in February after he was controversially sent off for a high challenge on Per Ciljan Skjelbred.

Hamburg are set to be boosted by the return of captain Rafael van der Vaart who successfully came through a midweek test on a thigh strain against the club’s Under-23 side. Defender Marcell Jansen may also be back following a fractured toe.

Coach Thorsten Fink said everything would be done to get Dutch midfielder van der Vaart fit for the trip to Dortmund.

“With his experience he will be very important for us,” Fink said.

Hamburg appear to have stabilised after a shaky start which included a 5-1 home defeat to Hoffenheim, and earned a first win when they defeated promoted Eintracht Braunschweig 4-0 on the last match day.

“Last season we beat Dortmund twice. Juergen Klopp will be making it clear to his team that shouldn’t happen again,” Fink said.

“So far his team hasn’t dropped a point, but we are determined to play boldly even if we know it is going to be a hard game. With a top performance we have a chance against any team in the league and can cause a surprise in Dortmund.

“We will play with two strikers. That worked well last season against Dortmund and also in the win over Braunschweig. We are definitely not going to hide.”

Bayern coach Pep Guardiola began welcoming back his internationals including Brazil defender Dante and Peru striker Claudio Pizarro, who did not return from South American World Cup qualifiers until Thursday.

Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who missed Germany’s World Cup qualifiers with an ankle injury, returned to training Tuesday and could be available for Hanover’s visit to the Allianz Arena.

Teammate Arjen Robben has recovered from a knock on his right knee and trained alongside Schweinsteiger after missing the Netherlands’ victory Tuesday over Andorra through suspension.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge meanwhile spoke of a key autumn period in the title race “where you cannot afford to show any weaknesses.”

“Dortmund last season dropped points in the league at this stage and couldn’t recover. That should be a warning for us,” he said.

The programme begins Friday when promoted Hertha Berlin, lying sixth, greet VfB Stuttgart who thrashed Hoffenheim 6-2 under new coach Thomas Schneider after three defeats cost Bruno Labbadia his job.

Elsewhere Saturday, Werder Bremen meets Eintracht Frankfurt while Freiburg are looking for a first win when they visit Augsburg.

On Sunday, tail-enders Braunschweig is seeking a first point when Nuremberg, who are a place above them and still without a win, are the visitors. Hoffenheim host Borussia Moenchengladbach in the day’s other game.

BVB out for revenge against Hamburg