Hamburger SV missed revenge in the city duel with FC St. Pauli. Five months after the 2-0 defeat against their neighboring rivals in the first half of the Bundesliga, the 113th edition of the derby only ended in a fair 0-0 draw.
A draw that doesn’t help either team in the relegation battle. The newly promoted HSV is still five points ahead of the neighborhood club. But both teams are stuck in the bottom of the table.
Both teams also showed why they can only avoid relegation this season. After a shockingly weak first half, things only got more intense after the break. FC St. Pauli had the better chances.
Before the game, both fan camps got in the mood with a march to the Millerntor Stadium. According to the police, things remained largely calm. The police secured the duel, which was classified as a risky game, with a large contingent.
HSV a little better in the first half
With temperatures around minus four degrees, both teams offered little to warm the 29,183 spectators in the first half. HSV gained an advantage in midfield and won the majority of the duels there. But the guests were just as unable to get to the front as the hosts.
Both teams were shockingly weak. There was hardly any playing, only fighting. They impressively showed why they are the least dangerous teams in the Bundesliga alongside 1. FC Heidenheim. If there were any shots on goal at all, they were harmless – or the players were offside.
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The only upset before the break was a rude foul by St. Pauli’s Adam Dzwigala on HSV offensive man Alexander Røssing-Lelesiit (7th). Dzwigala saw money, the young Norwegian played for a few more minutes, but then had to be replaced by Fabio Baldé.
The second half belongs to St. Pauli
In the second half, fans from both camps caused a delay when thick clouds of smoke drifted through the stadium after the pyrotechnics went off. HSV initially continued to be visually superior after the break. But FC St. Pauli got better and better into the game. By bringing in the quick Ricky-Jade Jones, there was more movement towards the goal.
But the guests had the first dangerous situation of the game. After a corner kick, HSV defense chief Luka Vuskovic (54th) failed with a header past St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.
In an interview on Sky after the game, the defender also reacted to the opposing fans, who had apparently discussed the content of his brother. Mario Vuskovic is banned for four years for doping. “I don’t know what the St. Pauli fans here think. It’s very disrespectful to insult my brother and my family,” his brother said, but didn’t get more specific.
As St. Pauli became increasingly stronger on the field, HSV coach Merlin Polzin reacted, completely changing his attack and bringing in Robert Glatzel, Rayan Philippe and Jean-Luc Dompé.
Polzin’s St. Pauli colleague Alexander Blessin had previously sent the recently injured captain Jackson Irvine and the recovering Danel Sinani onto the field to provide midfield impulses. These two personalities brought further momentum. Sinani (80′) was denied by HSV keeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes and Louis Oppie missed the follow-up shot. Two minutes later it was Arkadiusz Pyrka whose shot was also saved by Heuer Fernandes. That’s it.
