North hosts South as Ingolstadt head to Hamburg
Separated by just one point last season, Hamburger SV and FC Ingolstadt 04 get their 2016/17 campaigns up and running with an intriguing clash at the Volksparkstadion on Saturday (kick-off 15:30CEST/13:30GMT).
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While Ingolstadt may have been more than happy with their 11th-place finish last season, Hamburg – who edged them into tenth by a single point – will be keen to do even better this term. That is reflected in their summer transfer activity with the highly-rated Alen Halilovic joining from FC Barcelona, Filip Kostic arriving from VfB Stuttgart and USMNT international Bobby Wood coming from 1. FC Union Berlin.
Season preview: FC Ingolstadt 04
Ingolstadt's major summer change has been on the bench, where the departed Ralph Hasenhüttl has been replaced by Markus Kauczinski. Their second season since promotion – regarded by many as the most difficult – sees them put to the test right from day one. But the Bavarians are confident they can repeat the 40-point haul that secured safety with time to spare last term.
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Match stats
- Halilovic became the second-youngest player to appear in the UEFA Champions League aged just 16 in 2012.Kauczinski was named Coach of the Year 2015 by the German Football Association for his work with Karlsruher SC's youth team.Although only formed in 2004, Ingolstadt are no longer the youngest Bundesliga club afterRB Leipzig became the 55th side to play in the German top flight.
The Venue: Volksparkstadion
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Possible line-ups
Hamburg: to follow
Absentees: Dren Feka (groin)
Head coach: Bruno Labbadia
Ingolstadt: to follow
Absentees:
Head coach: Markus Kauczinski