Labor victory in Hamburg
Leverkusen keeps the race for the Champions League exciting
Updated March 4, 2026 – 10:36 p.mReading time: 3 minutes
Bayer Leverkusen rewards itself for a committed performance at HSV. In the end, the Werkself deserved to win 1-0, even though one goal was disallowed.
Bayer Leverkusen won the catch-up game in the Bundesliga against Hamburger SV 1-0 (0-0) and remains in the race for the Champions League places. Coach Kasper Hjulmand’s team is only three points behind VfB Stuttgart. HSV, on the other hand, missed an important step towards staying in the league.
In the first half, Bayer Leverkusen had more of the game, took more shots and dominated the game overall. However, there was no serious danger. Things only got tricky in the 14th minute when HSV professional Nicolai Remberg brought down Leverkusen’s Ibrahim Maza. Referee Sören Storks initially pointed to the penalty spot, but the VAR took it back – the foul was outside.
Leverkusen’s pressure increased in the second half, but a goal was not scored until the 68th minute. Edmond Tapsoba scored from a corner, but had previously touched the ball with his hand. The hit therefore did not count. In the 73rd minute, Christian Kofane scored the overdue goal for the Werkself.
The game on matchday 17 at the end of the first half of the season was actually supposed to be played shortly after the severe onset of winter in the north in January. But the game was postponed due to the partially accumulated condensation on the roof membrane and the associated safety concerns.
With the temperatures now much milder, the Leverkusen team started without Patrick Schick, who was not there due to muscular problems. Christian Kofane played for him. However, the Cameroonian was not involved when the guests threatened for the first time after seven minutes: 18-year-old debutant Montrell Culbreath missed the goal with a header. A few minutes later, Martin Terrier directed a cross onto the crossbar of the HSV goal.
A week before the first leg of the round of 16 in the Champions League against Arsenal FC, the guests tried to show a different face than last. And the eye-catching Ibrahim Maza almost won a penalty. But the foul by HSV substitute captain Nicolai Remberg on Maza took place outside the penalty area, the video referee ruled after the referee Sören Storks had first awarded a penalty.
