Nordderby in Hamburg: Police separate fan groups – what can we expect?

Nordderby in Hamburg: Police separate fan groups – what can we expect?

This Sunday, the Bundesliga northern derby between Hamburger SV and Werder Bremen will take place at 3:30 p.m. in the Volksparkstadion. The anticipation for this eagerly awaited duel can be felt in both fan camps, but the police are pulling out all the stops today to ensure everything goes smoothly. Loud NDR.de Thousands of Werder fans are expected in Hamburg, who will gather at 12 p.m. at the Othmarschen S-Bahn station for a fan march.

The police had already announced in advance that they would be present with a large contingent to accompany the fan groups during the march to the stadium and to avoid possible incidents. The focus is particularly on around 1,200 people who come from the ultra environment and could potentially cause provocations. Despite the tense situation, the police expect the game to be calm. A total of around 5,700 away fans are expected at the stadium, most of whom will arrive by bus and train.

Traffic disruptions around the derby

In addition to the tension surrounding the derby, fans have to prepare for significant traffic delays. The A7 and the Elbtunnel are completely closed at the weekend due to construction work. This measure began on Friday evening and will continue until Monday morning. The affected section between Hamburg-Stellingen and Heimfeld also has an impact on traffic around Hamburger Volkspark butenunbinnen.de reported.

However, the authorities have quickly set up an alternative route for drivers, which can lead over the Neue Elbbrücken. Traffic jams are also expected on the A1 in front of the Norderel Bridge, which could make it even more difficult for fans to travel. A full guest block in the Volksparkstadion creates additional excitement and increases the anticipation of a thrilling football game.

Safety measures in focus

The security situation and fan culture are not only the focus of today's derby. At a meeting of the Federal-State Open Working Group (BLoAG) on November 12, 2025, which was convened by the Conference of Interior Ministers, representatives from the police, DFB and DFL discussed security in football stadiums. The fan culture in Germany, which is considered one of the liveliest, is increasingly facing challenges, including the willingness of individual perpetrators to use violence. These topics were also addressed at a top-level discussion in October 2024, which dealt with the high number of police operations and incidents surrounding football games, such as dfl.de highlights.

The discussions revolved around possible measures to improve security in the stadium and reduce police operations. Among other things, it was suggested that ticket quotas for away fans should be reduced and the personalization of tickets should be examined. The aim is to ensure trusting cooperation between everyone involved and to maintain the positive fan culture and a high level of security.

Today not only promises an emotionally charged football match between two rivals, but also presents a major challenge for the security forces. With this in mind, we can only hope that the fans can experience an exciting and peaceful derby.