HSV have won three Bundesliga titles since, but the last one dates back to the 1982/83 season - won by still legendary players such as Uli Stein, Manfred Kaltz, Felix Magath or Horst Hrubesch.

16 from 7

Now that HSV have pulled off a sensational start with 16 points from their first seven games the fans hope that the long wait could come to an end.

But what is it that makes HSV so strong? bundesliga.de has compiled a few reasons:

• HSV are strong at home and have won four home matches in a row.
  
  
• The Hamburgers have found the back of the net with five headers, more than any other team.
  
  
• Mladen Petric has scored seven goals in his last seven competitive matches (two each in DFB and UEFA Cup). His three Bundesliga goals were all winning goals.
  
  
• No club has scored more goals in the first 15 minutes into the second half than Martin Jol's team (four goals). Ivica Olic has bagged three of those.
  
  
• HSV have been able to count on the woodwork four times. Bochum (five) are the only team that has been saved by post or bar more often.
  
  
• Martin Jol has picked up 2.3 points per game in the Bundesliga so far - the best record of all current Bundesliga coaches.
  
  
• HSV have turned more matches around (two) than any other club this season. Stuttgart and Wolfsburg (one each) are the only other teams to win after going a goal down.
  
  
• The "Red shorts" have taken 18.7% of their goalscoring chances, only one team has been better.
  
  
• HSV have completed 68% of their passes in the final third of the pitch, which is the best record in the Bundesliga.

More about Hamburger SV in this week's edition of "GOAL! The Bundesliga magazine"