Hamburg

Hamburg come off a topsy-turvy year. They were the second-worst team in the league for the first half of the season -- and the second-best one for the second half. If Hamburg keep up that momentum, things look very good indeed.

Mohamed Zidan has been enlisted to bolster last year's woeful attack. Otherwise, Hamburg are more-or-less standing pat, trusting that international stars Rafael van der Vaart, Vincent Kompany and Juan Pablo Sorin won't want to go through another relegation battle.

Sporting Director Dietmar Beiersdorfer has left no doubt about the club's aim this season.

"We want to get back into international competitions," he said.

The smart money says he gets his wish.

Coach: Huub Stevens

Acquisitions: Miso Brecko (Erzgebirge Aue, returns from loan), Mustafa Kucukovic (Greuther Fürth, returns from loan), Wolfgang Hesl (Hamburg amateurs), Sebastian Langkamp (Bayern Munich amateurs), Mohamed Zidan (Mainz), Kosi Saka (Borussia Dortmund), Sidney Sam (Hamburg amateurs), Raphael Wolf (Hamburg amateurs), Romeo Castelen (Feyenoord)

Departures: Boubacar Sanogo (Werder Bremen), Stefan Wächter (Hansa Rostock), Mehdi Mahdavikia (Eintracht Frankfurt), Mathias Abel, Rene Klingbeil, Danijel Ljuboja, Sascha Kirschstein (on loan to Greuther Fürth), Benjamin Lauth (Hannover 96)