Match report

HSV win 3-0 in Leipzig!

HSV deservedly ended the unbeaten run of newly-promoted high flyers RB Leipzig on Saturday afternoon. Markus Gisdol’s side played superbly to run out the 3-0winners in front of a capacity crowd of 42,558 inside the freezing cold Red Bull Arena on matchday 20. The Hamburg men on target were Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Walace and Aaron Hunt. All goals were set up by a rampant Nicolai Müller.

HSV grabbed a surprising but nonetheless fully deserved 3-0 victory away to second placed RB Leipzig on Saturday afternoon (11.02). The visitors were superb in defence with former Leipzig man Papadopoulos and fellow new signing Walace at their very best. For HSV it was the first win on their travels since the 2-0 win at Darmstadt last December. For the home side it was their first home defeat since April last year. The Rothosen were in miserly mood, allowing Leipzig to have the ball until they reached the danger zone. The visitors tackled hard and beat Leipzig at their own game of pressing high up the pitch. Papadopoulos (18.) and Walace (24.) put Hamburg into the driving seat with superb headers from corners from the right taken by Müller. Injury time substitute Aaron Hunt scored with his first touch of the ball after being unselfishly set up by Müller to round off a perfect counter attack and send the 5,000 or so travelling HSV fans into raptures.

Two corners two goals...

Markus Gisdol made four changes to the team which convincingly beat Cologne 2-0 at home to reach the quarter finals of the DFB Cup on Tuesday evening, with key duo Holtby and Müller returning from injury and Ostrzolek once again replacing Douglas Santos at left back. Greek central defender Papadopoulos getting the nod ahead of former HSV captain Djourou. Gisdol surprised some by giving winter signing Walace a start in Leipzig. That decision was to be more than justified as the Brazilian had a superb game as did so many others including Holtby who battled like a terrier. The visitors began the game very focused, managing to thwart any Leipzig danger in the bud while getting forward themselves at every opportunity.

The corner fifth taken by Müller from the right was the one to break the deadlock, as Papadopolous rose above all and sundry to power home a wonderful header giving the visitors a deserved lead on 18 minutes. The Rothosen struck again after 24 minutes with almost a carbon copy of their opener. A Müller corner from the right was majestically met by Bundesliga debutant Walace rose like a Salmon to power the ball across the keeper and into the net via the inside of the left hand upright. The visitors remained calm and did not get carried away by their superb lead and deservedly led 2-0 at half time. The home side had only threatened once as Poulson struck the outside of a post. Apart from that the east German side were kept quiet.

... Müller sets up number 3 too

HSV began the second half with a bit of a bang as home keeper Gulacsi was forced to save at the feet of Holtby who had been found advancing into the Leipzig box by Wood within sixty seconds of the restart. It would surely have been game over for the hosts had Holtby taken that chance. As it was the Rothosen fought on as they searched for three crucial and in truth unexpected points in their fight against the dreaded drop. Leipzig failed to create any really clear cut chances as the visitors remained cool while keeping them at bay.

The Rothosen were not content to sit back on their lead, preferring to get forward and take the game to the team which had won eight of their last nine home games mainly down to the third best attack in the league. Therefollowed further Hamburg counter attacks which were not rounded off by Wood & Co. – the only (if any) aspect worthy of slight criticism. Gisdol brought on Hunt (who had played his best HSV game so far in the cup win on Tuesday) and the striker scored his side’s third and final goal with his first touch of the ball after being wonderfully set up by the irresistible Müller. It rounded of what has been a perfect week for the Rothosen who beat Leverkusen and Cologne at home and now much-fancied Leipzig in their own back yard. After taking 15 points from their last eight games, HSV are second on that front behind mighty Bayern Munich. Finally the win sees HSV move aplace above the dreaded drop zone for the fist time in ages. Four of the next five matches are at home and we can’t wait for more!

Match details:

RB Leipzig: Gulacsi - Bernardo (71. Schmitz), Upamecano (31. Poulsen, 43. Selke), Orban, Halstenberg - Ilsanker, Demme - Keita, Forsberg - Werner, Sabitzer

HSV: Adler - Sakai, Papadopoulos, Mavraj, Ostrzolek - Jung, Walace - Müller, Holtby )90.+1. Ekdal), Kostic (83. Diekmeier) - Wood (90.+2. Hunt)

Goals: 0:1 Papadopoulos (18.), 0:2 Walace (24., 0:3 Hunt (90.+3.)

Att: 42.558 (sold out)

Booked: Werner (9.), Orban (82.) / Papadopoulos (55.), Jung (86.)

Referee: Sascha Stegemann (Niederkassel)