Match report

HSV fall to narrow 2-1 defeat in Leipzig

Despite a valiant display away to RB Leipzig, the Rothosen emerged empty-handed. Baumgartner netted a brace for the hosts, scoring either side of Sambi Lokonga’s short-lived equaliser.

On Bundesliga matchday seven, Hamburger SV fell to a narrow defeat away to third-placed side RB Leipzig, losing 2-1 on Saturday afternoon (18th October). 47,800 fans watched on as the two sides played out an entertaining affair at the Red Bull Arena. An evenly balanced first half culminated in the hosts going 1-0 up shortly before the break through Christoph Baumgartner (45’). However, HSV responded almost immediately following the restart when Albert Sambi Lokonga levelled the contest (48’), only for Baungartner to put the home side ahead once again just two minutes later (50’). This time around, the visitors were able to find a goal back ahead of the final whistle.

Christoph Baumgartner found a way past the dogged HSV back line in the 45th minute.

Setback on the stroke of half time…

Head coach Merlin Polzin made a singular change from his side that started the 4-0 win at home to 1. FSV Mainz 05, with William Mikelbrencis replacing Giorgi Gocholeishvili, who was absent from the Rothosen squad after sustaining a facial injury in training. Ahead of kick off in Leipzig, there was a special moment for centre-forward Yussuf Poulsen (who began on the bench) as RBL’s record appearance holder was welcomed back to his old stomping ground with a choreo display.

Hamburg display confidence from the very first whistle, pressing high and looking to get on the ball. Nevertheless, it was the hosts who registered the first shot of the afternoon as captain David Raum struck the outside of the net with a direct free-kick attempt. After that, both teams somewhat cancelled each other out, with play primarily situated in between the two boxes. The home side saw the majority of possession but struggled to create too much in the way of attacking opportunities against a compact Hamburg rear guard.

The first real moment of threat from Leipzig arrived after 25 minutes, when Daniel Heuer Fernandes was required to make an impressive save to keep out Christoph Baumgartner. Nicolai Remberg then stretched to get to the ball ahead of the Austrian attacker to clear. The subsequent corner then also called the HSV defence into action when Antonio Nusa was picked out in space on the edge of the box via a corner routine; however, a combination of legs stopped the effort on its way to goal.

With half an hour played, it was then the turn of the Rothosen to go on the offensive, creating back-to-back chances. Firstly, Ransford Königsdörffer was denied at the last moment by a block from Ridle Baku on the slide. From the following Miro Muheim corner, home keeper Peter Gulácsi was out-jumped by the HSV forward but he could not direct his header on target from close range. Shortly before half time, Baumgartner then latched onto a Nusa cross in behind the defensive line and headed into the back of the net for 1-0.

Albert Sambi Lokonga bagged his second goal in as many games as he levelled the scores at 1-1.

... before two quick-fire goals after the break

HSV were anything but slow out the blocks for the second period and hit back straight away. Muheim broke down the left flank before setting up Albert Sambi Lokonga, whose deflected strike nestled kindly in the far corner. Hamburg passionately celebrated what was a deserved equalising goal, albeit only for a matter of a couple of minutes before Leipzig took the lead once more.

Yet again, Baumgartner got beyond the defence thanks to a sharp one-two and finished clinically from a central position to restore his team’s advantage at 2-1. Nevertheless, HSV did not let that affect them and continued to play openly as they sought another leveller. Although, promising chances for Königsdörffer and Philippe went begging.

Following an action-packed opening quarter of an hour, the second half then quietened down somewhat until Jean-Luc Dompé fired off the next warning shot. The French winger tested the durability of the woodwork after around 70 minutes when he struck the left-hand post with a free-kick from a tight angle. Polzin introduced further fresh legs for the final 15 minutes, bringing on Poulsen and Pherai. Hamburg pressed on and, backed by the noise exuding from over 10,000 impassioned HSV fans, they had much the better of the remainder of proceedings. However, when faced with a low block of Leipzig defenders that proved compact as could be, the decisive gaps were not to be found. Although HSV headed home empty-handed, they had regardless given a good account of themselves against one of the most ambitious Bundesliga sides.

MATCH STATISTICS:

RB Leipzig: Gulacsi – Baku, Orban, Lukeba, Raum – Seiwald, Ouedraogo (61’ Banzuzi), Baumgartner (78’ Schlager) – Bakayoko (61’ Diomande), Romulo (90’ Harder), Nusa (90’ Klostermann)

Hamburger SV: Fernandes – Capaldo (90’ Ramos), Vuskovic, Elfadli – Mikelbrencis (84’ Balde), Sambi Lokonga (76’ Pherai), Remberg, Muheim – Philippe (90’ Glatzel), Königsdörffer (76’ Poulsen), Dompe

Goals: 1-0 Baumgartner (45’), 1-1 Sambi Lokonga (48’), 2-1 Baumgartner (50’)

Attendance: 47,800 (sold-out)

Referee: Tobias Welz (Wiesbaden)

Yellow cards: Baumgartner, Diomande, Harder / Capaldo