At the end of the year, Hamburger SV and Eintracht Frankfurt shared the points in the Bundesliga. It was a draw of the more exciting kind: with a shocking moment, two saves and a late VAR intervention that prevented Hamburg from winning.
HSV and SGE drew 1-1 (1-1) on Saturday. Albert Sambi Lokonga (19th) put promoted Hamburg in front, Hugo Larsson (26th) equalized for Frankfurt. The point helps HSV to 13th place (16 points), Eintracht winters in seventh place with 25 points.
“If you look at the circumstances, the boys are on their last legs, we have a lot of injury problems, three strikers are out […] In today’s game we have to make three substitutions due to injuries […]we’re in a pretty good position for that“Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmöller was satisfied with the draw to Sportschau.
HSV coach Merlin Polzin also gave a satisfied review of the year at the sports show microphone: “It was an absolutely outstanding year for HSV with the double promotion for men and women,” he said. “But what is certain is that we want to have games like we had today often.”
Big Frankfurter Bock enables HSV to take the lead
The game itself started with a tough initial phase. Both teams worked hard at each other, but were shaky in attack when they had possession of the ball. So it was significant that an Eintracht error helped HSV take the lead. SGE goalkeeper Michael Zetterer threw the ball briefly to Nnamdi Collins. He made a bad pass into the box – a misunderstanding with Larsson, who would have preferred to pick up the ball.
Lokonga accepted this gift and put his shot through the legs of Robin Koch in the short corner. Goalkeeper Zetterer didn’t look too good either, but his view was obscured by the people in front.
Frankfurt’s Collins and Larsson redeem themselves with a brilliant move
The two Frankfurters involved in the misunderstanding, Collins and Larsson, redeemed themselves a little later when the SGE brilliantly equalized. First, Collins shifted the game to the left with an impressive diagonal ball, Nathaniel Brown volleyed across the six-yard box, where Larsson slipped the ball into the goal.
After that it got wild for a moment, HSV narrowly missed the direct answer to a double chance. Rayan Philippe was brought into a central shooting position by Lokonga and shot, his volley attempt hitting the crossbar. After that, Frankfurt couldn’t clarify the situation and the game continued – William Mikelbrencis headed on goal from a tight angle, Brown saved from the line (27th).
The game then settled between the penalty areas again. Apart from a powerful long-range shot from Miro Muheim that just missed the goal (31′), not much happened in the first half.
Frankfurt’s Knauff tests Hamburg’s Heuer Fernandes with a side kick
After the restart, the visiting fans caused a short interruption. Referee Tobias Stieler looked with worry lines at the Frankfurt curve, where massive amounts of pyrotechnics and fireworks were being set off. After a minute he released the game again.
Frankfurt then playfully took over the scepter. HSV was waiting for a counterattack. So the SGE had a great chance: During a corner kick, HSV midfielder Nicolai Remberg involuntarily headed the ball to Ansgar Knauff at the second post. He made a picture-perfect side kick, Hamburg goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes had to stretch for the parade (59th).
Shocking moment when Muheim and Kristensen collide
Then there was another interruption in the game, this time it was longer. Rasmus Kristensen and Muheim unfortunately collided into each other and both remained lying down. Hamburg’s Luka Vuskovic quickly put Kristensen in the recovery position and briefly reached into his mouth. Both actors were treated.
Somewhat surprisingly, both were able to continue. SGE coach Toppmöller played it safe because he took Kristensen down (71st) and replaced him with Elias Baum. Curious: Baum later had to leave the field after being injured (84′).
Jatta clears on the line, VAR concedes the HSV goal
A playful highlight was a double chance for Frankfurt: Mahmoud Dahoud and Brown failed from close range, with HSV joker Bakery Jatta clearing the ball off the line at the last minute (76′).
On the other side, Hamburg’s Fabio Vieira, who had also just come into the game, celebrated. But only for a short time – because he had put a pass from Ransford Königsdörffer into the goal, but was just offside. Stieler conceded the goal after a VAR warning (81′). Because of the interruptions there was an extra nine minutes, but it remained a draw.
HSV in Freiburg, Frankfurt against Dortmund
After the winter break, HSV will be guests at SC Freiburg on Saturday (January 10, 2026, 3:30 p.m.). Frankfurt will host Borussia Dortmund on Friday evening (8:30 p.m.).
