Goalkeepers ready for huge Hamburg derby as St. Pauli host HSV
St. Pauli host Hamburg in the city derby to kick off Matchday 19’s action on Friday. The two sides are involved in a relegation battle, and a victory for either could kickstart their respective campaigns.
This is only the second Bundesliga meeting between the two since 2011. The first came at the start of this campaign on Matchday 2 following HSV’s return to the top flight on the back of a seven-year absence. On that occasion, it was Pauli who prevailed 2-0 at the Volksparkstadion, part of a three-game unbeaten run to begin the season.
Watch: Hamburg 0-2 St. Pauli - Matchday 2 highlights
Worlds apart in the Hamburg derby
However, the derby triumph proved to be a false dawn for the Kiezkicker. After beating Augsburg in their next encounter, a nine-game losing streak ensued, while they had to wait another 11 games for a victory, against Heidenheim on Matchday 14. That was part of another three-game run without a loss, but besides those two mini-streaks, they have lost every Bundesliga match this term.
While they were unable to build on that early win over Hamburg, also getting the better of their local rivals this time around could give them momentum as they look extend their stay in the top flight. Currently, they sit bottom of the table, leaving them needing positive results, and fast.
Watch: Hamburg derby: a study in contrasts
Speaking to the Bundesliga in the build-up to the encounter, Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj is under no illusions about the extra importance of this clash. “It’s the biggest game for us. Of course, the situation and the importance of the points for us are huge. I believe that probably makes it a little bit bigger.
"But it’s a huge game anyway, and it’s a good chance to get out of this situation and to win the derby, which is like killing two birds with one stone.”
Watch: Who are the key players in the Hamburg derby?
So far this campaign, Pauli have lost six games by a single goal, with their Matchday 18 loss to Borussia Dortmund following Emre Can’s penalty winner in the 95th minute the latest crushing setback.
As such, Vasilj – who made his 150th appearance for the club versus the Black-Yellows - believes a win against his side’s biggest rivals may provide the extra confidence required to get over the line in other games between now and May.
“It can change how the season goes for us, because I think we played many good games. I don’t think we are in the place where we are supposed to be right now, because I think we deserved a little bit more this season. Hopefully, this is going to be the game that can also change that.”
Hamburg, too, would like to think a triumph at the Millerntor would move the needle for their own campaign. While they have performed well at home, winning four of their nine games in front of their own supporters, they remain the only side in the German top flight yet to win on their travels.
Nevertheless, they have often been difficult to break down in 2025/26, with only seven sides conceding fewer than their 27 goals despite sitting 14th in the table. It is therefore no surprise that Daniel Heuer Fernandes, Vasilj’s opposite number, is eager to concentrate on the positives.
“You can see the process,” he told the Bundesliga. “You can see the strength we’ve built within the team from Matchday 1 until now. You can clearly see what we want to stand for. The last match, for example - how we played against an opponent like Borussia Mönchengladbach for 60 or 70 minutes [the game ended goalless] - shows it.
"These are the attributes we want: intensity, joy in playing, and clarity in our game. I’m proud that we’ve gone down this path and taken these steps up until today. And that’s why it’s fun to work on this every day, because there’s still more potential in this team. And we want to bring that out in the next weeks and months.”
The 33-year-old, who described the defeat to Pauli earlier this season as “bitter”, explained that he and his teammates are now in a better position to prevail. “We’ve taken steps, we’ve moved forward, we’ve become better, and now the belief is simply to show that on Friday and leave the match with a different outcome.”
Watch: Heuer Fernandes' famous derby own goal from 2023
The Bundesliga is a 34-game season, but certain matches and moments still stand out. And the circumstances of this meeting – the 18th between the two amongst the German elite – make it extra special, of which Vasilj is clearly aware.
“Friday evening, all eyes on us. There’s no other game. It’s 8.30pm, at the Millerntor, in front of a full stadium, and with a great atmosphere. It’s going to be great.”
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