1:0 - HSV win Play Off first leg at Hertha BSC

Disputed VAR scenes...

Four days later, HSV coach Tim Walter changed his starting eleven from the Rostock game, in which the Rothosen had clinched their fifth win in a row and thus the Bundesliga relegation, in one position: Instead of Vagnoman, the coach brought on Rohr in midfield - and he was to be the unwilling centre of attention in the 35th minute. Referee Osmers had just decided to award a penalty to HSV after a handball by Pekarik in the Hertha penalty area, when the VAR intervened and wanted to recognise a previous - and alleged - handball by Rohr, so that the HSV penalty turned into a Hertha free kick. It was one of several upsets in this first half, in which Hamburg got off to the better start. The Walter team was there from the start, presented itself defensively strong in two fights and offensively courageous as usual. Thus, the Red Shorts earned the majority of the game shares in this match, which was, however, marked by some nervousness overall. The impressive backdrop and the immense importance of the game combined to cause both sides to shake their feet now and then. Thus, both sides only had a few goals, as the final third often lacked precision. Jatta, in particular, was able to assert himself on the right wing a few times, but in the end a few centimetres were always missing. Centimetres that HSV had on their side when Hertha BSC almost took the lead with their best attacking action of the first half shortly before the break, but goal scorer Belfodil was offside with his foot. So the first half ended goalless, which seemed a bit too little for HSV due to 60 per cent possession and tackling rate as well as the disputed penalty.