2-1 – Rothosen claim home win against 1. FC Köln

Compared to the 5-0 defeat at RB Leipzig, head coach Polzin made three changes to his starting XI: Omari, Vieira and Moffi came in for Nandja, Daka and Poulsen. In a slow opening, Köln had the first chance in the sixth minute when Maina played Dallinga through from the right half-space, but the striker fired into the side netting from a tight angle and just a few metres out. The visitors subsequently took control of the game against a deliberately deep-lying HSV side, enjoying almost 65 per cent possession. Lochoshvili rose to meet a corner from Maina inside the penalty area, but Torunarigha cleared the ball behind for a corner (20').

Just a few minutes later, the visitors created another dangerous opportunity. Moore found space on the left in front of the HSV penalty area and curled the ball towards the far right corner, but Heuer Fernandes reacted quickly to turn it around the post (26').

HSV then registered their first shot on goal following a free-kick after Krauß had fouled Grönbaek. From more than 25 metres out, Vieira went for goal directly, but goalkeeper Schwäbe was down to his left to make the save (33'). Three minutes later, Vieira was involved again as the ball fell to him on the edge of the box. The Portuguese midfielder struck with his left foot, but the effort took a deflection and was once again comfortably dealt with by Schwäbe.

The game began to open up, and Heuer Fernandes was soon called into action at the other end. In the 37th minute, the Rothosen goalkeeper first saved a long-range effort from El Mala, who cut inside from the left before curling a shot towards goal from around 19 metres. Shortly afterwards, Heuer Fernandes produced a stunning reflex save when Dallinga met a cross from Mensah with a header from less than five metres out. "Ferro's" right arm shot up to keep the ball out (38').

Just before half-time, the Rothosen won a corner through Möller Wolfe. Sambi Lokonga had previously played a superb through ball to the Norwegian. Grönbaek delivered the resulting corner from the left into the penalty area, where Capaldo was left unmarked and headed home with confidence to give HSV a much-celebrated 1-0 lead (44'). The teams then headed into the break.

Hamburger SV made one change at half-time, with Poulsen replacing Moffi – and the Dane made an immediate impact. On the counter-attack in the 50th minute, Grönbaek picked out his fellow countryman from the left, and Poulsen had no trouble converting from close range to make it 2-0!

Shortly before that, Grönbaek himself had been denied by Schwäbe. The goalkeeper had inadvertently played the ball against his teammate Simpson-Pusey while building from the back, with the rebound falling straight to Grönbaek, who was unable to beat Schwäbe in the one-on-one.

With a 2-0 lead behind them, HSV visibly grew in confidence at both ends of the pitch. El Mala came close one final time with an effort from the left side of the penalty area, but Heuer Fernandes kept it out with his legs (52'). El Ouahdi in particular repeatedly prevented Köln's breakout star from making his way through, earning several rounds of applause from the stands.

Poulsen followed the full-back's example, setting the tone defensively with determined challenges as the first line of defence for the Rothosen. HSV also became increasingly assured in possession as Köln began to take more risks. Grönbaek delivered a free-kick into the box, where Remberg met it with a powerful header that went just wide (55').

HSV continued to push. Poulsen powered his way into the penalty area and got a shot away from just a few metres out, but Schwäbe made the save (69'). Vieira then sent a free-kick towards goal from around 20 metres, but once again Schwäbe was on hand to tip the ball over the crossbar (79').

The minutes ticked by and the game looked to be heading towards a comfortable home win for the Rothosen. Shortly before the final whistle, Poulsen had another opportunity: Vieira picked out the Dane inside the penalty area, but Poulsen slipped as he attempted to get his shot away and sent the ball wide to the right (88').

Köln pulled one back almost immediately afterwards, with Ache heading home a cross from Skhiri on the right (90'). That proved to be the final goal of the game, however, and the Hamburg side celebrated their first three points of the season.