Bilal Nadir’s difficult first start in the Bundesliga

Bilal Nadir experienced his first start in the Bundesliga this Sunday while playing for Hamburg. Positioned in midfield alongside Nicolai Remberg during the match against Mainz, on the occasion of the second matchday of the championship, the Moroccan midfielder played the first half of a game that was largely dominated by the visitors (0-5).

This debut in the starting eleven took place in a particularly challenging context. Sheraldo Becker opened the scoring in the 19th minute before Phillipp Mwene doubled the lead shortly before halftime (41st). Trailing 2-0, Merlin Polzin made three substitutions right after the break. Nadir notably made way for Fabio Vieira after 45 minutes of play.

This significant reshuffle did not allow HSV to respond. Phillip Tietz scored a brace in the second half (48th and 83rd), and then former Hamburg player Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer sealed Mainz’s victory in stoppage time (90th+1). Hamburg thus records a second defeat in as many matchdays and remains without a single goal scored.

Having come on in the 82nd minute against Borussia Dortmund on the first matchday, Nadir nonetheless takes another step forward with the German club. Arriving on a free transfer from Olympique de Marseille this summer, the Moroccan will now need to try to confirm the trust placed in him by his coach after this shortened first start.