Frankfurt’s eel outwits the Hamburger whale in DFB-Pokal

Frankfurt’s eel outwits the Hamburger whale in the DFB-Pokal as striker Jonathan Burkardt makes it 2‑0 in Hamburg, sparking a clash where the HSV’s stronger play is wasted and the match finishes 3‑1 to Eintracht Frankfurt. Fans of the two clubs stage an artistic duel, presenting the iconic Hamburger Wal.

Fans trade giant mascots

Fans turned the stadium into a gallery, with the Eintracht supporters handing a life‑size drawing of a whale through the Stadion and the Hamburg fans responding with an oversized portrait of an Eintracht fan. The latter figure wore only a white slip stamped with the red Eintracht logo and the caption “Lieber Wal statt Aal”. The exchange mocked the old (Alten) HSV while celebrating the Frankfurter eel (Aal) that would later dominate.

First half: HSV dominate but miss chances

HSV proved the stronger side on the pitch, winning two of three ground duels and pressing in the air, yet they squandered every chance. Terem Moffi was tackled in the 22nd minute, Zakaria El Ouahdi shot at goalkeeper Noah Atubolu in the 24th and again missed a counter in the 45th, while Albert Gronbaek’s right‑footed strike went wide in the 29th and Sebastiaan Bornauw headed over. The stadium announcer declared those the best 45 minutes of HSV’s season, even though the half‑time score read 0‑0.

Eintracht created five good minutes in which they generated three clear chances, but Jonathan Burkardt, Ritsu Doan and Farès Chaibi all failed to convert. Five HSV players were absent, yet Sie still threatened the Frankfurt defence, especially on Auf the flanks where the wing‑backs pressed high. The lack of a decisive finish left the match evenly poised heading into the break.

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Frankfurt’s eel seals cup win

After the interval Frankfurt switched to a more aggressive shape, combining over the right and pressing HSV inside their own box. Chaibi supplied a cross, Burkardt met it with a header and captain Robin Koch nodded the ball forward, giving the Frankfurter side a 1‑0 lead after 56 minutes. The goal was described as an eel slipping through water, a nod to the team’s nickname Aal.

HSV raised the tempo and number 9 Terem Moffi headed wide in the 63rd minute, his fourth big chance of the night. Burkardt doubled the lead in the 71st, dribbling past a defender and sliding the ball between goalkeeper Sander Tangvik’s legs before unleashing a shot that curled into the Frankfurt curve. Younes Ebnoutalib, freshly released into the Hamburg “water” by coach Hütter, added a third in the 75th minute, sealing a 3‑1 victory that sent the Frankfurter eel into the next DFB‑Pokal round.

The match also saw a dramatic leg (Bein) incident when captain Robin Koch appeared to be tripped by El Ouahdi in the penalty area, a foul the referee let pass. Later, Nnamdi Collins struck HSV defender Groenbaek with an elbow to the face, earning a second yellow card after an earlier warning; referee Tobias Stieler recorded a foul but did not issue a red. Coach Hütter promptly substituted Collins, leaving the Frankfurt side to finish the game with ten men on the field.

Artistic rivalry mirrors cup drama

The DFB‑Pokal clash demonstrated how the Frankfurter eel finally outmaneuvered the Hamburger whale, with Eintracht advancing thanks to Burkardt’s two goals and Ebnoutalib’s late strike. The fans’ artistic duel, from the whale drawing to the “Lieber Wal statt Aal” banner, underscored the cultural spice that surrounds the competition, leaving both clubs eager for the next round.