For the first time in seven years, HSV fans are once again experiencing Bundesliga soccer. The derby against St. Pauli is not going at all to the liking of the promoted team.
In its first Bundesliga home game in seven years, HSV immediately lost its status as number one in Hamburg. The promoted team lost 0-2 (0-1) to its neighborhood rival FC St. Pauli in the explosive city derby.Adam Dzwigala (19th minute) put the Kiezkickers ahead before the break. The outstanding Andreas Hountondji (60th) sealed the deal with his second goal of the season. In the 77th minute, the hosts were down to ten men after Giorgi Gotscholeischwili was shown a yellow-red card.
With their first derby win since October 14, 2022, FC St. Pauli moved to the top of the table with four points after two matchdays, at least overnight. The last game between the two neighbors, who are seven kilometers apart, was won 1-0 by HSV in the 2nd Bundesliga in May 2024.
The visitors’ success this time in the first Hamburg city derby in the Bundesliga in more than 14 years was deserved. They appeared more mature and composed in their play. The newly formed HSV team, on the other hand, still needs time and patience to settle into the Bundesliga.
Best derby atmosphere
The 57,000 spectators in the sold-out Volksparkstadion created a breathtaking derby atmosphere. Every successful tackle, every successful dribble, every throw-in won by their teams was celebrated frenetically by the respective fans.
On the pitch, both teams got down to business right from the kickoff – including some niggly fouls. Both HSV coach Merlin Polzin and his colleague Alexander Blessin fielded the same starting lineups as in the opening games in Mönchengladbach (HSV) and against Borussia Dortmund (FC St. Pauli), where both teams drew.
In the early stages, the game was mainly played in midfield. After a good quarter of an hour, FC St. Pauli gained the upper hand. HSV had nothing to counter with in attack. As in the preseason, their shortcomings in terms of play were exposed.
St. Pauli takes the lead with its first chance
The Kiez kickers took the lead with their first shot on goal. After a corner kick, Dzwigala beat HSV’s Miro Muheim and left goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes with no chance.
Shortly afterwards, the hosts were lucky when referee Christian Dingert ruled a scuffle between HSV defender Jordan Torunarigha and Hountondji against the St. Pauli striker. Otherwise, Hountondji would have been through. Shortly before half-time, Mathias Pereira Lage (41′) missed the chance to make it 2-0.
Bad luck for HSV: goal disallowed for offside
After the break, HSV initially pushed forward. And they were rewarded after four minutes. But the supposed equalizer by Ransdorf Königsdörffer (49′) was disallowed after video review due to a very slight offside position by the shooter. Four minutes later, St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj had to make his first serious save after a free kick from Muheim. In the 56th minute, Polzin brought on HSV strikers Yussuf Poulsen and Jean-Luc Dompé. But even they couldn’t turn the game around. Instead, St. Pauli scored their second goal. After a superb pass from Joel Fujita, Hountondji ran alone towards Heuer Fernandes and finished from a tight angle. When Gotscholeischwili was sent off, the visitors had further chances with their numerical advantage, but were unable to capitalize on them.