Match report

HSV lose 1-0 in the Nordderby

They fought hard on Saturday night, but HSV ultimately lost 1-0 to bitter rivals SV Werder Bremen in the Nordderby. A contentious Rick Van Drongelen own goal proved to be decisive (86’).

In the 108th edition of Germany’s most historic derby, HSV return to Hamburg with no points to show for their efforts. In a game that was evenly matched and often had to stop due to the actions of some people in the stands, both sides found things difficult to get going. While Hamburg fared better in the 50-50 challenges, Werder were the side with more possession. Clear-cut chances were few and far between. As the game carried on, this did pick up more and more, however. Bremen were the team who got the luck they needed though. Ishak Belfodil took his opportunity shortly before the game’s conclusion (86’), and forced Rick Van Drongelen to kick the ball over his own line from inches out. The Rothosen then threw everything they had forward to try and snatch a point, but they did so in vain. A bitterly disappointing result.

Bakery Jatta, who was surprisingly part of todays starting lineup, had some great moments in the first half.

A back-and-forth Nordderby...

Bernd Hollerbach sent his team out onto the pitch in a 4-3-2-1 formation, with Hahn leading the line. He was supported by Kostic, Jatta and Hunt just behind him. It was a surprising start for the young Jatta, but he rewarded his coach’s faith by really giving it his all. Twice the 19-year-old ventured his way into the centre from his position out on the right and had the two best opportunities of the first half. Bremen didn’t start the game well, on the other hand, similarly to how they fared last week. And their most dangerous moments were limited to long range shots and set-pieces - especially corners, which the Rothosen defended very capably. After HSV couldn’t quite get the luck they needed to force the ball over the line in the first half, the sides went into the dressing rooms with the score 0-0.

The decising moment: van Drongelen is attacked by Belfodil and unintentionally scores an own goal.

... with a bitter ending

Bremen started the second half much better than they did in the first, and put HSV under pressure from the outset. The Rothosen had to navigate themselves through a few hairy situations as a result, but they fought their way out of them time and time again. Hamburg tried to catch Bremen out on the break, but ultimately, their efforts proved harmless. The game became more and more physical as it continued on, with more and more challenges and more and more fouls. The game also suffered from numerous stoppages in the play due to pyrotechnics, which did nothing but disrupt the flow of the match. But it was Bremen that, despite all this, were the side who had the stroke of luck when they needed it. Belfodil raced towards a loose ball from a clearly offside position and beat Van Drongelen to poke the ball home from a very short distance (86’). It was a crazy moment in the game which proved to be the difference. It was representative of the situation that HSV currently find themselves in after the Nordderby defeat - seven points away from Bundesliga safety.

Match facts:

Hamburger SV: Mathenia - Sakai, Papadopoulos, van Drongelen, Douglas - Jung (89’ Arp), Walace - Jatta (77’ Wood), Hunt, Kostic - Hahn

Werder Bremen: Pavlenka - Gebre Selassie, Veljkovic, Moisander, Augustinsson - Bargfrede (90.+1’ Gondorf) - Delaney, M. Eggestein - Junuzovic (84’ Johannsson), Kainz (73’ Belfodil) - Kruse

Goals: 1-0 van Drongelen (86’)

Attendance: 42.100 (sold-out)

Referee: Felix Zwayer (Berlin)

Yellow Cards: Augustinsson (63’) / Jatta (59‘)