Highlights
C. Dingert
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90'
+ 6
Full-time: Hamburg 1-0 Cologne
Hamburg go top of the table with a 1-0 victory over second-placed Cologne. The match saw few clear-cut chances, with a penalty ultimately deciding the outcome. Cologne had their best opportunity to equalise with a shot off the post shortly before the final whistle. Ultimately, Hamburg got their just reward for a brave performance from the start.
Full-time
90'
+ 6
Yellow card for time-wasting
Mikelbrencis takes a very long time to take a free-kick and is cautioned.
90'
+ 3
Cologne not going out without a fight
Cologne are pushing hard to try to stay top of the table, but Hamburg are sitting deep and there haven't been any real dangerous situations in the last few minutes.
90'
Added time
There are five minutes added on. Can the "Effzeh" still find an equaliser?
87'
Woodwork!
After a ping-pong in the Hamburg penalty area, the ball lands in front of Martel, who unleashes a powerful volley. Heuer Fernandes barely sees the ball and only hears it smash against the post. The final minutes are going to be tense!
85'
Lively
The match has really livened up after the goal as Cologne push for an equaliser and Hamburg counter-attack strongly. Schwäbe has to prevent a second goal for Dompé with a brilliant save.
84'
Substitution
82'
Very good at home
Apart from his brace in the first meeting between the two this season, Königsdörffer has scored six of his eight goals this term at home, finding the net in each of the last three home matches.
78'
The rebound finds the back of the net!
HSV take the lead! Schwäbe initially managed to save to his bottom left, but zhe rebound falls directly to Königsdörffer, who slots home. Could that be the decisive moment?
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.
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.
78'
77'
SituationPenalty
ReviewPrevious Handball?
DecisionPenalty
76'
Injury-forced substitution
Huseinbašić has to come off due to injury, which means Obuz takes his place.
76'
Substitution
73'
Hübers sees yellow
The Cologne man stops Königsdörffer by pulling his shirt. The resulting free kick is headed away by Heintz.
73'
Who will take a risk?
With about 15 minutes left in the match, there is still no winner. Will either side dare to go in search of the victory, or are both content with a share of the points?
72'
Double substitution
Königsdörffer now comes on in place of Selke, while Poręba replaces Karabec, who had a good game.
72'
Substitution
72'
Substitution
Aerial battle
© IMAGO/Justus Stegemann
67'
Fresh attacking impetus
Tigges comes on for Downs. This likely brings more aerial prowess and physicality instead of speed, which makes sense considering much of the play is revolving around set-pieces.
67'
Substitution
66'
Unusual
In their last 30 home matches, HSV failed to score only once - in April 2024 during a 0-1 defeat against Holstein Kiel.
64'
Game of corners
Every important moment in this game is usually preceded by a corner. On this occasion, Hamburg just about manage to clear.
62'
Pressure Handling
Pressure Handling
This Match Fact examines how successfully players perform under pressure. The percentage of "solved situations" indicates how often a player has freed himself from opponent pressure by dribbling, passing, scoring a goal or drawing a foul.
70%
%
Miro Muheim
10 times under pressure
60'
How did that not go in?
Dompé delivers another sharp cross across the face of goal, and Karabec is barely two yards away from goal and has a free header. Schwäbe, though, raises his arm and tips the ball over the crossbar.
58'
Two Cologne changes
Now Thielmann and Kainz are coming on for Waldschmidt and Gazibegović. The plan is clear - attack!
58'
Substitution
58'
Substitution
57'
Attacking change
Sahiti comes on for Jatta. The speedy winger had gone down seconds earlier after an aerial duel, but could have probably continued. The substitution seems to be more of a tactical nature.
57'
Substitution
55'
Waldschmidt sees yellow
The striker interrupts a quick counter-attacking opportunity for the hosts by kicking tje ball away. This results in a booking.
53'
Dangerous corner
Maina delivers the set-piece into a dangerous area, but before Heuer Fernandes can punch it away, Elfadli clears.
50'
Long-range effort
Maina receives a free-kick just beyond the halfway line and sends the ball towards the far post, where Martel tries to flick it on for Hübers. Mikelbrencis manages to clear it before it reaches its target, though.
Selke a whisker away
© IMAGO/Justus Stegemann
46'
We're back underway!
The second half is in progress. Both teams make one substitution in midfield. Richter replaces Pherai for the home side, and Finkgräfe comes on for Paqarade for the visitors.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 5
No goals at the break
HSV have kept a clean sheet at home for the ninth time this season before the interval. They have only failed to score at home in the first 45 minutes for the second time (previously on Matchday 7 against Paderborn, also 0-0, final score 2-2).
45'
+ 5
Half-time: Hamburg 0-0 Cologne
A match with few highlights goes into the break. HSV started energetically, but the league leaders grew and had one or two half-chances of their own. Both teams need to step up their game to turn the match in their favour.
45'
+ 4
Substitution
45'
+ 4
Substitution
Half-time
45'
+ 1
Stoppage time
Due to the initial short delay, there are to be four minutes added on.
45'
Best chance of the match!
Hamburg combine beautifully up to the penalty area. The ball eventually reaches Dompé, who attempts a curling shot from in off the wing. Schwäbe has to stretch and manages to save it. Good effort from HSV!
42'
Where's the goal?
Goal attempts
5off target
0on target
2off target
0on target
38'
Another free-kick at the edge of the box
Muheim's second free-kick from a very good position comes off the wall and goes behind for a corner, which is subsequently overhit and comes to nothing.
36'
Stepping up a gear
The match is slowly picking up pace and Cologne are starting to get more involved after a slow start. Downs takes charge on the wing and crosses it, but the ball ends up in the arms of Heuer Fernandes.
33'
More out of desperation
A Cologne corner is unsuccessful and the second ball is shot from quite a distance by Huseinbašić on the half-volley. Well wide!
30'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
28'
A whisker short!
The hosts become dangerous again down the left flank. Once more, it's Dompé who whips in a cross. This time, Selke dives to meet the ball but misses it and consequently the tap-in by mere inches from just a few yards out. Schwäbe would surely have been beaten.
24'
The decision stands!
Dompé crosses into the penalty area, the ball hits a Cologne player's arm. Dingert and the VAR review the incident again and stick to their initial decision not to award a penalty.
24'
SituationNo penalty
ReviewHandball?
DecisionNo penalty
23'
Clever!
Paqarada executes the free-kick, finding Martel at the far post, who hits the side netting with a first-time shot.
19'
Route one
Once again, Cologne attempt to play a sharp ball down the flanks to Downs up front. So far, the passes have either been too long or intercepted by a Hamburg player.
15'
Hübers blocks Selke!
A fortunate bounce puts Selke in a good shooting position. However, centre-back Hübers manages to block the shot from a tight angle.
13'
Quiet start
Goal attempts
1off target
0on target
0off target
0on target
11'
Wake-up call!
Dompé fires a free-kick from a promising position into the wall. That was awarde after Gazibegović cleared an opponent out in an aerial duel.
9'
Tentative start
The hosts are passing the ball around at the back, looking to gain confidence in the first few minutes of football in the new year. Cologne themselves are pressing with moderate aggression.
6'
Play resumes
Cologne get a corner, but it's not a good one. The HSV counter-attack is stopped somewhat overzealously by new signing Gazibegović. He receives an early yellow card for that.
1'
Kick-off!
The ball is rolling here in Hamburg.
Kick-off!
All to play for at the top
Cologne could double their lead over HSV with a win (from three points to six). Hamburg, on the other hand, would overtake the league leaders with a victory and would be in a direct promotion spot for the 100th time in the Bundesliga 2. If Karlsruhe don't win tomorrow, HSV will be top of the table for the first time since September 2023.
Delayed kick-off
© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Wunderl
More on that Cologne team
New signing Gazibegović moves straight into the starting eleven on the right (replacing Jan Thielmann). Dominique Heintz, who was suspended for the last match of 2024 due to yellow card accumulation, now takes his regular place again, displacing Max Finkgräfe from the starting eleven. Additionally, Luca Waldschmidt starts in place of Florian Kainz. Waldschmidt is seemingly rewarded for his brace in the Billy Goats' friendly against Viktoria Köln (coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2).
More on that Hamburg team
In comparison to the last match before the winter break - a 5-0 thrashing of Fürth - Merlin Polzin makes two changes. Captain Sebastian Schonlau is not 100 percent fit and is on the bench, Daniel Elfadli moves into the team in his place (having served his suspension for two yellow cards). Additionally, Bakery Jatta plays instead of Emir Sahiti.
Cologne starting XI
Schwäbe - Hübers, Martel, Heintz - Gazibegović, Ljubicic, Huseinbašić, Paqarada - Luca Waldschmidt, Maina - Downs
HSV starting XI
Heuer Fernandes - Mikelbrencis, Hadžikadunić, Elfadli, Muheim - Pherai, Meffert, Karabec - Jatta, Selke, Dompé
Merlin Polzin on facing Cologne
"We want to lay the foundation with a good start to the second half of the season, with our fans behind us. The anticipation for kick-off is at its peak. We expect to face a strong opponent in Cologne. They had a good run before the winter break, which we now want to end. We have a game plan and have prepared for this opponent. The excitement for this match is high."
Gerhard Struber's on facing Hamburg
"The team is ready, we have prepared well. The friendly matches have shown us where we need to improve. We have addressed these points and now it's time to implement them."
Almost always a winner
At Hamburg's Volkspark Stadium, only one of the last 14 competitive matches between these two has ended in a draw (1-1 in the Bundesliga back in 2015/16).
Brace yourself
In Hamburg's 2-1 victory in Cologne in the first half of the season, forward Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörfer scored his only brace of the season.
Old foes
In the Bundesliga, this fixture occurred 94 times, most recently in the 2017/18 season. So far, it's thrown out 36 Hamburg wins, and 33 Cologne wins.
Clean sweep
Hamburg remain unbeaten against Cologne in the Bundesliga 2 (two wins, one draw).
Hello and welcome!
Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 18 fixture between Hamburg and Cologne.