Tense 2026 Hamburg Derby Ends in Goalless Draw Amid Physical Play and Record Sprint

The 113th Hamburg Derby between FC St. Pauli and HSV concluded in a goalless 0:0 draw on January 23, 2026, marked more by intensity and physicality than scoring opportunities. The fiercely contested match featured approximately 1,000 St. Pauli fans and 4,000 HSV supporters, whose pyrotechnics and chants created a charged atmosphere, necessitating a massive police presence of 1,000 officers including 300 special forces.

Both teams struggled to create chances; the xGoals for St. Pauli and HSV stood at a mere 0.03 and 0.09 respectively. The match saw numerous hard fouls and injuries affecting play. Notably, St. Pauli's captain Jackson Irvine made a surprising comeback after recovering from a left foot stress injury, entering as a substitute after 65 minutes. Irvine expressed surprise at his quick return and emphasized the need for his team to improve offensive strategies to secure better Bundesliga results.

A standout moment was Ricky-Jade Jones of St. Pauli setting a Bundesliga season speed record by clocking 36.1 km/h in the 66th minute during a sprint against HSV defender Capaldo. This surpassed the previous season's leading speed of 36.01 km/h held by Oliver Burke. Jones's personal best is 37.6 km/h from his prior club, hinting at his pace potential.

Despite the derby's electrifying atmosphere and high physicality, the game ended without goals, reflecting a battle dominated by strong defenses and tactical caution. Irvine remarked on the difficulty in creating clear scoring chances but remained confident about the team's future prospects in the league. The next challenge for St. Pauli is a rescheduled Bundesliga fixture against Leipzig.