Coming into this game with three losses, 12 goals conceded, and none scored made Hamburg’s start to the campaign the third-worst in Bundesliga history.
As such, the home fans were desperate for some positive signs, and although they kept things tight in the opening 20 minutes, just 25% possession hardly felt comfortable for Die Rothosen.
Hamburg came under increasing pressure as the half wore on, surviving a scare when Luka Lochoshvili’s header from a corner was deflected wide, before needing a last-ditch challenge from Capaldo to stop Thijs Dallinga from pulling the trigger in the area.
The Cologne momentum continued to build as Mikey Moore saw his curling effort pushed around the post by Daniel Heuer Fernandes, shortly before Said El Mala came within inches of making contact with an inviting cross to the back post.
Heuer Fernandes was then called into action to deal with El Mala’s rifled shot, and had to rely on sharp reaction to keep out a Dallinga header from point-blank range.
Yet remarkably, it was Hamburg that broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, as Capaldo rose highest to nod home a corner against the run of play.
That was just the 13th home goal Hamburg had netted in 2026, but it crucially gave the hosts something to cling onto in the second half.
However, Cologne’s last 14 matches had seen both sides score, and arguably, Moore should have restored parity minutes after the restart when he skied a loose ball over from close range.
Instead, Die Rothosen made them pay moments later, failing to punish Marvin Schwabe for a miskick, but making no mistake when half-time substitute Poulsen turned in Albert Gronbaek’s whipped cross.
El Mala immediately retorted with a fierce strike, but Heuer Fernandes was equal to it, and Poulsen almost added a third goal on the break.
Substitute Ragnar Ache finally pulled one back in the 90th minute with a well-timed header at the end of a neat passing move, but it proved to be too little, too late.
Hamburg have now lost just two of their last 12 H2Hs (W8, D2), lifting them out of the bottom three at this early stage.
As for Cologne, no wins in 15 away trips (D6, L9) represents the longest such run in the Bundesliga, and they’ve now won just one of their last nine against sides starting the day bottom of the table (D3, L5).
Flashscore Man of the Match: Nicolas Capaldo (Hamburger SV)