SV Werder and Hamburger SV played out an entertaining Nordderby, with the spoils being shared after 90 thrilling minutes. The encounter ended 2-2, the Werder goals were supplied by Bartels (14’) and Gnabry on the stroke of half time, both strikes bringing the Green-Whites level after Michael Gregoritsch had put HSV into the lead twice (3’/28’). After the break, both sides fought doggedly but neither could find a winner, so SVW and HSV had to be satisfied with a point each.
Line-up: For the 105th Nordderby, Alexander Nouri made four changes to his starting XI from the week before. In goal, Jaroslav Drobny finally recovered from his hand injury and was chosen to start against his old side, this mean Felix Wiedwald took a place on the bench. In the back-four, Robert Bauer was deployed at right-back for the first time at Werder, while Thanos Petsos lined up next to captain Clemens Fritz in front of the defence, as Florian Grillitsch missed out due to injury. Finally, Fin Bartels got the nod ahead of Claudio Pizarro, who would be used as an impact substitute later in the game. Bartels started out wide, as Max Kruse was the lone striker.
1st minute: The eagerly-awaited first Nordderby of the 2016/17 season kicks off. The hosts get an early corner but it’s cleared by SVW.
3rd minute: Hamburg lead. A misunderstanding between Drobny and Moisander while playing the ball out from the back is taken advantage of by HSV. Lewis Holtby crosses to Michael Gregoritsch who heads in without too many problems – what a dreadful start.
5th minute: The first Green-White effort. Kruse find himself in some space wide on the edge of the box and tries his luck. His shot just goes wide of the far post.
10th minute: Hamburg have had the best opening ten minutes and not just because of their goal. Thanos Petsos receives an early yellow card for a tactical foul as HSV were on the attack.
12th minute: This time it’s HSV losing the ball as they try to build their play. Bartels gets the ball and sends Gnabry on his way but his left-footed shot from a tight angle misses the target.
14th minute: GOOAAALL FOR WERDER! A great attack from the Green-Whites! Gnabry has the ball on the left, he finds Clemens Fritz centrally around 20 yards from goal. The captain in turn feeds Bartels on the right who beats his marker and smashes the ball low into the net. Game on!
21st minute: Bartels is again at the centre of the action. Max Kruse plays Robert Bauer in on the right, whose low cross into the box arrives at the feet of the Green-White goalscorer, however, his shot is blocked. It’s an intense and high-tempo derby so far, as both teams look more comfortable attacking than defending.
26th minute: Nicolai Müller unleashes a strike from 25 yards which flies just over Drobny’s goal.
28th minute: 2-1 to Hamburg. After Gnabry tries a solo run but loses the ball, Müller dribbels at the left-side of the Werder defence, beating all the challenge which come his way. Just ahead of the by-line he pulls the ball back to Gregoritsch who has a simple finish from three yards out.
37th minute: A huge chance for Bartels. He could have levelled the score again but doesn’t catch his volley well. The ball bounced into the ground and Mathenia tips it over in the HSV goal.
45th minute: SEEERGEEE GNAAAAABRY! WHAT A GOAL! All by himself, he dribbles into the Hamburg box, fending off the challenges that come his way, he opens up his body and coolly slots the ball low past Mathenia. Incredible! What a first half!
45+1st minute: Nicolai Müller shoots from around 20 yards but misses the target. After, the referee blows his whistle for half time and the sides go in level.
46th minute: Back underway in Hamburg. Werder make a change at the break, with the already cautioned Thanos Petsos making way for Philipp Bargfrede.
53th minute: Max Kruse has a lot of room down the left and drives the ball forward to the edge of the box. This time, however, he decides to cross with the ball hitting Bartels in the back. Overall, both sides appear to be focusing more on defensive stability. In any case, the tempo of the game has settled since the first-half.
61st minute: Kruse again makes progress down the left, with his high ball into the box finding Junuzovic. However, the Austrian couldn’t control the ball. The intensity of the game is still extremely high, with Werder holding a slight advantage, even if they haven’t created any clear-cut chances. The travelling SVW fans are awaiting the introduction of Claudio Pizarro.
68th minute: “Piza” is now into the action. The Peruvian comes on for goalscorer Serge Gnabry, with Kruse now playing just off the striker. Junuzovic is operating out wide.
71st minute: For the first time in the game, things begin to get heated on the pitch. Drobny plucks a Hamburg free-kick out of the air, with Djourou catching the SVW keeper as he gathers the ball. Santiago Garcia lets the Hamburg player know what he thinks of the challenge, with referee Dr. Felix Brych showing Djourou a yellow card for his troubles.
74th minute: Relief! Gregoritsch ghosts his way into the box. Luckily, his header lands into the safe hands of Drobny.
82nd minute: The game enters the closing stages. Both teams are pressing for the decisive goal. The Green-Whites are just lacking that bit of precision on the break. A well finished attack would do now…
88th minute: Izet Hajrovic comes on for Finn Bartels. Head coach Alexander Nouri brings on another fresh and quick player with a fast counter-attack perhaps in mind.
90+2nd minute: Jaroslav Drobny makes a fantastic reaction save. The shot from Holtby is deflected by second half substitute Lossogga, who is in an offside position anyway. Nevertheless, a great bit of work from Drobny.
90th minute: Full time in Hamburg. SVW and HSV share the spoils in a highly entertaining 2-2 draw.
Summary: In what was a frenetic first half, both sides show their attacking strengths and defensive weaknesses, having both good and bad periods in the opening 45 minutes. After the break, it remained a highly exciting affair, even if both sides lacked that clinical edge going forward. Having come back twice in the game, SVW can be pleased with the fight that they showed. Ingolstadt are the visitors to the Weser-Stadion in Werder’s next Bundesliga clash (3.12).
