Hamburg picked up what could prove to be a vital point in their battle for survival, scoring late on to draw 1-1 at home to Hannover in the final Matchday 21 fixture of the weekend.

Hamburg 1-1 Hannover

Goals: 0-1 Fossum (37'), 1-1 Kostic (86')
Sent off: Papadopoulos (90+4')

There was a predictably feisty opening to encounter in Hamburg, with the hosts scrapping for survival and Hannover keen to bounce back following defeat to Wolfsburg last week. Full-blooded tackles in a congested midfield were far more frequent than goalscoring opportunities in the first period, but Iver Fossum's spectacular half-volley from 25-yards out following a corner broke the deadlock and put the visitors in front at the interval.

Hannover should have extended their lead early in the second half but Ihlas Bebou was far too casual when presented with a chance and only goalkeeper Christian Mathenia to beat. It proved to be a costly miss, as although Hamburg rarely looked like scoring, they still grabbed an equaliser out of the blue when Filip Kostic popped up to tap in at the back post when Sejad Salihovic's curling free-kick caused havoc in the Hannover box late on. The hosts pressed for a winner but the only late drama was a sending off for Kryiakos Papadopoulos for a second bookable offence.

Match stats

Fossum scored his first Bundesliga goal in his 17th top-flight outing. Kostic is HSV's top scorer with four goals this season. His effort was the first goal Hamburg have scored on home turf in 2018.Hamburg are currently on the league’s longest winless run (eight games).Krriakos Papadopoulos received his tenth booking of the season in this game - more than any other Bundesliga player in 2017/18.HSV's Wood last scored on 25 August 2017 at Cologne.Hamburg won their only previous match this season on a Sunday 3-0 against Hoffenheim – their biggest victory in 2017/18.The Red Shorts have been in the bottom three on 70 of the 157 matchdays since summer 2013 – a league high. Hannover have been in the bottom three on just 27 occasions in this period, but were relegated in 2016.Hannover did the double over Hamburg for just the third time in the club's history, following 2003/04 and 2004/05.Hannover's Felix Klaus is unbeaten in his seven games against Hamburg (W3, D4). His father Fred made 15 Bundesliga appearances for HSV in 1988/89.

Want more Bundesliga Action?

GET THE UPDATES!

Line-ups

Hamburg: Mathenia – Diekmeier (Ito 46'), Papadopoulos, van Drongelen, Douglas - Sakai (c), Walace, Ekdal (Salihovic 81') – Hunt (Arp 57'), Wood, Kostic
Subs: Pollersbeck, Mavraj, Holtby, Waldschmidt
Absentees: Müller (knee ligaments)
Coach: Bernd Hollerbach

Hannover: Tschauner (c) – Korb, Sane, Anton, Elez - Schwegler (Karaman 90+2'), Fossum, Ostrzolek – Klaus (Harnik 76'), Bebou (Bakalorz 84') – Füllkrug
Subs: Esser, Maier, Hübner, Sorg
Absentees: Jonathas (thigh), Prib (cruciate ligament)
Coach: Andre Breitenreiter

Watch: Fossum left disappointed after Hamburg's late equaliser

Live updates