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HSV Hamburg Hamburg - KOE Cologne Cologne

HSV

2

KOE

1

90'
R. Ache
Y. Poulsen
50'

N. Capaldo
44'

Volksparkstadion(Sold out)

Dr. Matthias Jöllenbeck

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32 %Nicolás Capaldo

Nicolás Capaldo

Nicolás Capaldo

Man of the Match Trophy

0:09

Watch: Hamburg celebrate their win

Full-time: Hamburg 2-1 Cologne

Hamburg hold on for a big three points to finally get their season going. Cologne dominated large periods of the game, but Hamburg had a game plan, and they executed it well, taking their chances whereas the visitors let theirs slide.

© Selim Sudheimer

0:25

Capaldo: "It was really important"

The Hamburg defender was delighted to contribute to an important win for his side with a goal - one which he knew was coming.

Full-time

90'

+ 1

Added time

There will be three additional minutes.

90'

Yellow card

Jordan Torunarigha

90'

Ache pulls one back

The visitors finally have a goal, and it comes through substitute Ache, who heads Skhiri's cross into the bottom corner. It could be a nervy couple of minutes for Hamburg now.

90'

Ragnar Ache

GOAL!

2:1

Assist:E. Skhiri

Ragnar Ache

Goal probability

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

20 %

Distance to Goal

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

8.29 m

90'

Substitution

Albert Sambi Lokonga

88'

Poulsen fires wide

Vieira fizzes a low pass into Poulsen in the box. He turns and looks to shoot, but he never really gets set, and his shot is off target.

86'

Daka looks to add a third

The Hamburg striker fires a loose ball in the box towards goal, but it's blocked.

84'

Another booking

Skhiri is cautioned for bringing down Daka on the edge of the box.

Hamburg on the verge

That Poulsen goal has Hamburg on the verge of their first win of the season.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Marcel von Fehrn

84'

Yellow card

81'

Final roll of the dice

Bülter and Waldschmidt are on for the visitors as they search for a way back into the game.

81'

Substitution

81'

Substitution

Luca Waldschmidt

78'

Vieira tests Schwäbe

Vieira tries his luck from the free-kick and it is an awkward one for Schwäbe as the strike gets some added dip via the wall, but he makes the stop.

77'

Too strong from Poulsen

The Hamburg forward does brilliantly to hold off Jóhannesson before being hauled to the ground.

77'

Yellow card

Ísak Jóhannesson

77'

Substitution

Zakaria El Ouahdi

77'

Substitution

David Møller Wolfe

76'

Ache this time

And the shot is blocked yet again.

75'

Blocked again

Jóhannesson becomes the latest Cologne player to have a shot from outside the box blocked.

74'

Inches away

El Mala tries his luck from the edge of the box, and via a deflection off Lochoshvili, the ball bounces away off the outside of the post.

73'

Charged down

Maina chops onto his left and shoots, but his effort is immediately blocked by Remberg.

69'

Poulsen denied

The Dane stands up and beats Lochoshvili on the edge of the area before trying to poke the ball past Schwäbe, but the Cologne goalkeeper stands up big and makes the save.

67'

Substitution

Ísak Jóhannesson

Alessio Castro-Montes

67'

Substitution

Albert Grønbæk

64'

Cologne changes

Sosa and Ache are on for Mensah and Dallinga. Can they help the visitors find a way back into the game?

64'

Substitution

64'

Substitution

60'

Vieira denied

The Portuguese midfielder bursts forward and drives a shot towards goal. Fortunately for Schwäbe, the powerful strike is straight at him, and he can make the save.

57'

Goalkeeper Efficiency of Daniel Heuer Fernandes

Goalkeeper Efficiency

Goalkeeper Efficiency compares the number of saves a goalkeeper makes with his expected saves (xSaves). xSaves is calculated with the help of artificial intelligence. When a goalkeeper has a positive efficiency value, it means he has saved more shots than statistically expected.

1

Saves4

xSaves3

55'

Headed over

Grønbæk whips in a free-kick, and Remberg is free in the centre. He meets the ball with his head, but he doesn't get the direction right at all.

54'

Mensah fouls Vieira

The Cologne fullback dives in to win the ball from Vieira, but gets it wrong and trips the Hamburg man. He gets a yellow card for his trouble.

54'

Yellow card

52'

El Mala denied

Cologne come forward looking for a way back into the game and they almost find it immediately as El Mala pounces on a loose ball and fires in a low shot that Heuer Fernandes does well to parry clear.

0:18

Hamburg double their lead

The hosts break down the left through Grønbæk, and he spots and finds Poulsen in the centre with a perfect cross. Poulsen connects cleanly in the centre, and although Schwäbe gets a touch, he can't stop the ball from bouncing into the back of the net.

50'

Yussuf Poulsen

GOAL!

2:0

Assist:A. Grønbæk

Yussuf Poulsen

Goal probability

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

53 %

Distance to Goal

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

8.13 m

48'

Almost a huge opportunity

Schwäbe tries to clear, but his long ball forward pings off the back of a Cologne defender and almost lands at the feet of Grønbæk, but Schwäbe reacts quickly to shut down the chance.

47'

Moore misses a great opportunity

El Mala skins Torunarigha on the left flank and fires in a low cross to Dallinga. His effort is blocked, but the ball bounces loose to Moore right in front of goal, though the Englishman is unable to convert on the half-volley.

46'

Back underway

The ball is moving once again in Hamburg.

Kick-off!

45'

+ 3

Substitution

Half-time: Hamburg 1-0 Cologne

Hamburg have their first league goal of the season, and it has them ahead at the interval. It came very much against the run of play, with Cologne being allowed to set the tempo by Hamburg, but that suckerpunch has come at just the right time for the hosts.

© Selim Sudheimer

Half-time

45'

+ 1

Added time

Just the two extra minutes before the break.

0:16

Capaldo fires Hamburg in front

And just like that, Hamburg have their first league goal of the season! Grønbæk whips in a corner from the left that floats all the way through to Capaldo at the back post, where the Argentine heads home from close range.

44'

Nicolás Capaldo

GOAL!

1:0

Assist:A. Grønbæk

Nicolás Capaldo

Goal probability

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

30 %

Distance to Goal

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

4.43 m

Will we see a goal before the break?

The game has opened up a little more in the last few minutes as we approach the interval.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Marcel von Fehrn

38'

Best chance so far

Mensah has space on the left to send in a cross and Dallinga is there to meet it from just a few yards out, but he can't find a corner and that allows Heuer Fernandes to react quickly to make the save from close range. That should have been the opener.

37'

El Mala denied

The tricky winger picks up a loose ball on the left, sprints inside and fires an effort towards the far corner that brings a good save out of Heuer Fernandes.

35'

Not far away

Cologne break and a cross is whipped in from the right that just narrowly avoids the head of El Mala. In his desperation to get on the end of that, the young winger ended up falling over the advertising boards.

35'

Blocked

Vieira cushions down a high ball with his chest and shoots quickly, but his shot is swept away.

32'

Out for a throw

El Mala does brilliantly initially to beat a couple of players to create shooting space, but his eventual shot is horribly mishit and ends up going out for a throw.

32'

Simple stop

Grønbæk wins Hamburg a free-kick in a decent position and Vieira decides to try his luck. The shot has power to it, but Schwäbe has a lot of time to get across and make the save.

29'

Treatment needed

Heuer Fernandes is down with a knock and is getting medical treatment. That isn't what the hosts need.

28'

Ball Recovery Time

Ball Recovery Time

Ball Recovery Time gives the time in seconds in which it takes a team to win back the ball following a loss of possession. It also allows conclusions to be drawn about a team's style of play. Only time when the ball is in play is counted (i.e. no breaks in play such as for goal-kicks, throw-ins etc).

HSV

KOE

33 s

13.7 s

27'

Wide

The corner is cleared only as far as Moore, but his effort bobbles well wide.

26'

Decent hit

Moore picks up the ball on the left and jinks his way inside to the edge of the box before whipping in a curling effort towards the far post that Heuer Fernandes has to tip behind for a corner.

24'

Danger signs

Simpson-Pusey goes on a mazy run, and Cologne just about hold onto possession. Moore then receives the ball on the edge of the box and tries to slip it through to Dallinga. The Cologne striker is just inches away from connecting, but Capaldo recovers well to make a vital challenge.

22'

A rare threat from the hosts

Hamburg win their first corner of the game and it is an awkward one to defend that is headed back and forth before being cleared.

19'

Half chance

Maina sends in a corner, and Lochoshvili meets it with his head from a good position, but his effort deflects off Torunarigha and bounces behind for another corner. That second set-piece leads to nothing.

16'

Side to side

Cologne have dominated the game's early possession, but the visitors have created very little so far. There have been lots of passes between the defence and midfield on halfway.

Possession (%)

2872

10'

First card of the game

Grønbæk slips whilst trying to close down Castro-Montes and accidentally catches the Cologne defender. The referee decides the challenge warranted a booking.

10'

Yellow card

Albert Grønbæk

6'

Side netting

And suddenly there is the first shot of the match as Maina slots through a neat pass for Dallinga. He shoots from a tight angle, but his effort hits the side netting.

5'

Slow start

A few soft fouls and a couple of misplaced passes have summed up the opening five minutes.

1'

We're underway

The ball is moving in Hamburg. Can the hosts get their first league goal of the season, or will Cologne pile on more misery?

Kick-off!

Players on the pitch

Both sets of players walk out onto the pitch to the backdrop of Hamburg's club song. Kick-off is now just moments away.

Vieira to kickstart Hamburg's season?

The Portuguese midfielder is the last Hamburg player to score a league goal, having bagged on the last match day of the 2025/26 season against Bayer Leverkusen. A goal for Hamburg today would be exactly what they need after a poor start to the campaign.

0:12

Watch: The Cologne players check out the pitch

Hamburg team news

Having started the season poorly, Polzin has once again decided to shuffle the pack today, making three changes. In defence, Omari replaces Nandja. Up top, Moffi takes the place of Poulsen, and most notably for the hosts, Vieira is back in midfield, having overcome his injury. He replaces Daka.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Marcel von Fehrn

Cologne team news

It's just the one change for the visitors and it is a notable one as El Mala returns to the starting XI in place of Bülter. The youngster scored in both games against Hamburg last season.

© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Buriakov

Starting line-up: Hamburger SV

Formation:3-4-2-1

Hamburg subs

Tangvik, Nandja, Lemke, Adeline, Nadir, Stange, Jatta, Poulsen, Daka

Starting line-up: 1. FC Köln

Formation:4-2-3-1

Cologne subs

Zieler, Schmid, Sosa, Sebulonsen, Jóhannesson, Thielmann, Waldschmidt, Ache, Bülter

0:17

Watch: Inside the Cologne changing room

0:04

Watch: Will we see this shirt from the start?

0:06

Watch: Welcome to the Volksparkstadion

Polzin extends contract

Despite their winless start to the season, Hamburg have agreed to a contract extension with head coach Merlin Polzin, who guided the club back to the Bundesliga in 2025 and kept them up last season. "They impress us with their expertise, their meticulousness, their diligence and their daily passion," said board member Kathleen Krüger of the decision to extend with Polzin and his backroom staff.

© IMAGO/pepphoto / Sascha Weiz

Merlin Polzin on facing Cologne

"Cologne are characterised by their high intensity. When the ball is played to their target men, they chase it down relentlessly. It can get uncomfortable. We expect a lot of balls flying into the box. At the same time, they defend bravely from the back."

© IMAGO/Oliver Ruhnke

René Wagner on facing Hamburg

"Hamburg proved last year that they can get back on track after a difficult start to the season and finish the campaign strongly. I don’t think we’re travelling to face an opponent from whom we can easily take all three points. They’ll be determined to secure their first home win. They’ll do everything in their power to achieve that. Our task will be to cause them problems again and capitalise on their weaknesses. It’ll be a really tough away game, but one in which we aim to pick up three points."

© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Buriakov

Room for improvement

Cologne have only won one of their last seven competitive meetings with Hamburg, who registered two wins over the Billy Goats in Germany's second tier in 2024/25. Both sides would go on to win promotion that season.

© DFL/Getty Images/Lukas Schulze

Things can only get better

With three straight defeats and a goal difference of -12, Hamburg have made their worst-ever start to a Bundesliga campaign. Merlin Polzin's side are one of only two teams yet to find the net in the league this term, Paderborn being the other.

© IMAGO/Oliver Ruhnke

2:03

Watch: Hamburg 1-1 Cologne - previous meeting

Saïd El Mala cancelled out Fábio Vieira's opener as the teams shared the spoils on Matchday 26 last season.

2:03

Watch: Leipzig 5-0 Hamburg - last time out

Merlin Polzin's side remain without a point in 2026/27 after slipping to a heavy defeat at the Red Bull Arena.

2:03

Watch: Cologne 1-1 Bremen - last time out

Linton Maina was on target for the Billy Goats, who were denied a second league win of the season by Niclas Füllkrug's second-half equaliser.

Hello and welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 4 fixture between Hamburg and Cologne.