Once again, a similarly poor Borussia Mönchengladbach side were defeated this weekend, this time at the hands of Hamburger SV; who were excellent in a comprehensive 3-0 victory for at Borussia Park.
It took only 11 minutes for the away side to break the deadlock, Pierre Michel Lasogga capitalising on a poor backpass from the usual dependent Tony Jantschke.
After some die Fohlenelf pressure during the half, Bruno Labbadia's side struck again on the stroke of halftime with Lasogga getting his second of the game. Nicolai Müller then added the gloss to a superb away performance for the Northern side.
Lucien Favre's side remain without a win, or a point, this season, and will definitely sit at the foot of the table at the end of the weekend's play.
Changes aplenty for both sides
Granit Xhaka's dismissal in die Fohlenelf's last Bundesliga game before the international break presented a tricky problem for Favre, as the Swiss maestro has proven archetypal to all things good and synonymous with this Borussia side over the last few years.
The absence of the former FC Basel man was combated by all-round utility player, Jantschke, slotting into the centre of midfield, alongside Håvard Nordveit; whilst Julian Korb replaced the outgoing Jantschke at right-back.
Die Fohlenelf also welcomed back Martin Stranzl, who has been absent since a 2-0 victory away to Bayern Münich in March. The Austrian central defender has been a stalwart at the heart of the defence since his move to Borussia Park from Spartak Moscow in 2010. However, Stranzl came back into a camp much different to the one that he departed in Bavaria last season, with Mönchengladbach winless and pointless prior to kick-off.
After a disappointing 2-1 defeat at the hands of high flying 1. FC Köln last time out, Labbadia wasn't for resting on his laurels as he axed no fewer than six of the starting eleven that took to the field at the RheinEnergieStadion.
Deadline day signing Aaron Hunt, formerly of arch rivals Werder Bremen, was afforded his first HSV start by the fomer VfB Stuttgart coach; whilst Johan Djourou, Gojko Kacar, Jaroslav Drobny, Müller and Lasogga also entered the opening eleven.
Defensive error costly as Hamburg take the lead
One of the things that saw die Fohlenelf in such good stead last season was their ability to grind out results and often keep a clean sheet. However this seems to have abandoned Favre's side this season as they have currently conceded in every game.
Whilst the return of Stranzl may have suggested the defence could be tighter tonight, you cannot account for individual errors, and Jantschke stepped up to prove just this fact.
The 'Gladbach captain took no care with his back pass to goalkeeper Yann Sommer, and by not checking his surroundings he sent the ball right to the feet of Lasogga, who rounded the hapless Sommer and dispatched into the back of the net. The goal proved to be the former Hertha BSC striker's first away goal in over a year.
Fohlenelf resurgence leads to nothing as HSV strike again
Another thing synonymous with the hosts' success in recent seasons is their lightning quick counter attacking play, coined in the era of Marco Reus and, more recently, Thorgan Hazard and Patrick Herrmann. The former, in this case, matched with Lars Stindl, were able to bring the hosts back into the game with a series of shots and set pieces, although the general trend was that the eventual efforts served no worry to Jaroslav Drobny between the sticks for die Rothosen.
Jantschke nearly made amends for his previous error with a towering header from a corner, although the Czech 'keeper did well and kept his side firmly in the lead. Drobny, in fact, was making his first appearance in six months after a succession of calf injuries, but looked sharp nonetheless.
When a side is dominating, a small lapse in concentration can undo all their hard work, and this proved the case for die Fohlenelf as Lasogga struck again on the stroke of the half time whistle with a towering header from a Ivo Iličević set piece. This was his third of the season; more than he notched between Autumn and Spring last campaign.
Again, the defending was poor from the hosts, Stranzl, rusty on his return, culpable as Lasogga lost his marker and gave his side some breathing space just before the break.
Away win signed and sealed
As would be expected, Favre's side came out all guns blazing at the start of the second period, as they looked to grab a lifeline in the game.
However, ten minutes into the half, all they had to show was a half chance header from Hahn that in no way shape or form troubled Drobny, and it was no surprise, following the calamitous defending of the first period, when Müller made sure of the three points for his after a simple long ball from his goalkeeper.
Raul Brouwers and Stranzl failed to deal with a simple aerial ball, leading to Müller having a free run on Sommer; the Swiss 'keeper once again left out to dry as has been the case on many a time this season so far, as the former 1. FSV Mainz 05 man had the simple task of lofting the ball over the on-rushing stopper.
Worrying signs before Champions League clash for Borussia, whilst HSV enjoy recent form
It was no surprise that the once again lackluster and poor Mönchengladbach failed to offer anything in reply during the remaining 30 minutes or so.
The travelling supporters made their voices of praise heard to the Hamburg players, whilst the home fans sulked in their seats, wondering what has gone so wrong after die Fohlenelf had taken Germany by storm last season.
Tuesday sees Favre travel to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan to take on Sevilla in their opening Champions League group game, and the Swiss manager will be worried heading into the match after such a poor start by his side. Their 4-1 victory in the DFB Pokal remains the only win for die Fohlenelf so far this campaign; whilst the team are still without a point in their domestic campaign and will remain bottom after the weekend's play.
Labbadia and HSV, on the other hand, will be hoping to avoid the mire that has surrounded the Volksparkstadion in the previous few years and an opening two wins in their first four games will serve to show that the same will not be happening again.
Their is a new life around this die Rothosen side and the return to form of Lasogga is only testament to the work of Labbadia in the Northern metropolis. All the signs point to a much improved finish this campaign for the club.