A club that once lifted the European Cup, a club that has never faced relegation from the Bundesliga since its foundation in 1963. The only club to hold such a record. And yet, the past few years in

Hamburg have been a dreary disappointment. This season, if the first game is anything to go by, looks like another season of bleak performances and frustrating results for Hamburger SV.

The first game of the season buzz was evident all around the Volksparkstadion. 50,000 were in attendance to watch what was a rather scrappy affair. Hamburg adopted a mixed approach to their passing in the first half, playing short sometimes from the Hamburg goalkeeper, René Adler and then going long from the same man or from his back four.

Ingolstadt looked very equal to Hamburg and threatened their goal on a few occasions. The first big test for Hamburg’s goalkeeper came when Pascal Groß produced a superb Cruyff-turn and fired at Adler’s near post, resulting in a reflex save from the German. Not too much to discuss after that moment. Hamburg and Ingolstadt both looked average and there were rare moments of any stand out quality.

Ingolstadt looked dangerous when they did venture into the opposition half. It was evident Hamburg’s defence was going to be a problem in this game. Unorganised, out of position and living dangerously, had a team with more attacking pre-eminence been the opposing side, Hamburg would certainly have been in a mess, their defensive complications would be the cause of their own downfall in the second half.

In the 30th minute, breakthrough for Hamburg. René Adler’s long ball forward found the American, Bobby Wood on the right side of the pitch who then portrayed his strength ability by holding off Marvin Matip up to the edge of the 18 yard area before demonstrating why he bagged 17 goals for Union Berlin last season in the second division, striking the still bouncing ball into the corner of the near post, an exquisite goal from Hamburg’s new man and a glimpse of how a direct approach can be successful, albeit after about 200 attempts.

Ingolstadt came close soon after Bobby’s strike. A corner delivered into the near post found, Alfredo Morales whose header went narrowly over the bar. The half time whistle sounded and the more engaging half of football was over.

Ingolstadt were quicker, more technical and more dangerous when the second half got underway, although clear cut chances for either side were scares. Ingolstadt forced a couple of saves from René Adler but he was ultimately untroubled.

A triple substitution for Hamburg opened the game up. Lasogga, Halilovic and Diekmeier on Gregoritsch, Müller and Jung off. A tremendous roar of appreciation when, Alen Halilović, who big things are expected from, came on to make his Bundesliga debut. Despite the triple change from Bruno Labbadia, Hamburg couldn’t see the game out and in the 79th minute, substitution Lukas Hinterseer scored a goal that summed up the game as a whole. Levels on the right hand side for Ingolstadt whips a low, outswinging ball across the Hamburg penalty area was cleared back across goal by Hamburg defender, Cleber only to fall right to the feet of the Austrian, Hinterseer who had an open goal and scored with one touch to grab a deserved equaliser for Ingolstadt.

Hamburg tried to regain the lead but it was like trying to find a parking space in a shopping centre at Christmas, a hopeless cause. They had very few opportunities to find a goal and the closest they came was actually from a deflected cross from the left side that hit the outside of the near post, a heart in mouths moment for the Ingolstadt fans and players.

In the end, a draw was a fair result in a slightly drab match that lacked a game changer. Alen Halilović was meant to be the latter, but he struggled to make an impact. There’s certainly work to do for both sides yet. Hamburg however, definitely need to do more.