by Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Excitement is reaching fever pitch in Hamburg ahead of Friday night's city derby, as Hamburg and St. Pauli prepare to face off in the Bundesliga for the first time in more than 14 years.
For the 2025/26 season, Hamburg is the only city in Germany to boast two top-flight clubs. Hamburg are back after seven years in the second tier, while St. Pauli returned in 2024. The wait until kickoff feels endless for supporters, who see this as the defining event of the campaign.
"The city belongs to us," Hamburg fans sang after last weekend's goalless opener in Monchengladbach. Their coach, 34-year-old Merlin Polzin, admitted his toughest critic isn't in the stands but at home - his grandmother, who texts him detailed match analyses after every game. Ahead of the derby, she was clear: a draw against St. Pauli won't do.
Despite Hamburg's struggles in the second division between 2018 and 2025, history weighs heavily in their favor. The club, relegated for the first time in its history in 2018, still boasts two European Cups, six Bundesliga titles, and three domestic cups.
St. Pauli, by contrast, has built an identity as the rebellious district club, representing a community of just 22,500 residents in a city of 1.9 million. Their biggest achievements include six promotions to the Bundesliga and a 2006 German Cup semifinal run.
The return of Hamburg's more decorated side has whipped up a frenzy, with tickets for the derby treated like gold dust. Security services are preparing for a high-risk fixture, as empty streets are expected across the city once the match begins.
Hamburg holds the edge historically, with 35 wins from 64 meetings, but in 2025 the balance has shifted. With both clubs back in the top flight, the "big" team and the "small" team meet on level terms. ■
