Papadopoulos heads HSV to 1-0 victory

Reports of the four-month ban on Hakan Calhanoglu and the resulting end of the season for the Turkey international were big news ahead of the opening game on matchday 19. With Chicharito ruled out with a groin injury, Roger Schmidt was forced to make changes bringing Kevin Volland and Julian Baumgartlinger into the starting eleven. Admir Mehmedi also started with Julian Brandt dropping to the bench.

Few chances in the first half

The match, in front of a less than capacity crowd at Hamburg's Volkspark Stadium, got off to a disjointed start. Both teams were determined and competitive plus quick to challenge and that resulted in a less than flowing encounter – not least because the game was full of misdirected passes and niggling fouls. Nevertheless, there was end-to-end action although at a minimum in both penalty areas. The only shot on goal in the first half fell to Hamburg's winter signing Mergim Mavraj: The former FC Köln player met a free kick from midfield on the right with a volley but the ball landed in the arms of Bayer 04 shot-stopper Bernd Leno on 11 minutes. The two teams went in level at the break with the score at 0-0.

After the restart, the Werkself were surprised by the energetic showing of the hosts and were lucky that a shot from Bobby Woods on 47 minutes from 12 yards out went just over the bar. Shortly after that, Hamburg's Nicolai Müller intercepted a pass from Ömer Toprak on 50 minutes. The Bayer 04 captain reacted in a flash and was able to challenge the HSV striker in the six-yard box to prevent the Werkself going behind.

Bellarabi goes off injured

As the half went on, the Werkself were able to overcome the pressure of the hosts but were unable to make headway against a compact Hamburg defence. That meant the majority of Bayer 04 attacks broke down outside the HSV penalty area. The fact the lively Karim Bellarabi went off injured after a challenge with HSV defender Dennis Diekmeier on 64 minutes fitted in with a disappointing day for the Werkself

The only goal of the game finally came from an unfortunate situation: In a challenge involving Hamburg's Filip Costic and Toprak, the referee Dr Jochen Drees awarded a free kick to HSV. In the tackle, Kostic accidentally stood on the ankle of the Werkself skipper with the result that he had to watch his team concede while receiving treatment on the sidelines. Lewis Holtby played the ball into the box and Müller helped it on into the six-yard box. Bayer 04 loanee Kyriakos Papadopoulos rose to head the ball into the far corner of the net – Leno stretched to the full but was unable to make a save. 1-0 to Hamburg SV on 76 minutes.

Bar prevents Kießling leveller

The Werkself press forward in search of an equaliser and almost provided a perfect response. A corner from Charles Aránguiz saw Kießling rise above the opposition but his header only hit the bar. Bayer 04 new signing Leon Bailey was brought on but unable to mark his Bundesliga debut with a goal. The Werkself ended the match with a narrow 1-0 defeat.

Next week brings another challenge. Eintracht Frankfurt visit the BayArena next Saturday in a 15.30 CET kick-off.

Match stats:

Hamburg SV: Adler – Diekmeier, Papadopoulos, Mavraj, Ostrzolek – Jung, Ekdal – Nico Müller (Waldschmidt 86’), Holtby (Djourou 87’), Kostic – Wood (Hunt (90’)

Bayer 04: Leno – Henrichs, Tah, Toprak, Wendell – Aránguiz, Baumgartlinger (Kießling 46’) – Bellarabi (Brandt 64’), Kampl – Mehmedi (Bailey 82’), Volland

Goals: 0-1 Papadopoulos (76’)

Booked: - / Bellarabi, Kampl, Wendell

Referee: Dr. Jochen Drees (Münster-Sarmsheim)

Attendance: 45,653