Hanno Balitsch was the hero on the day for Nürnberg as they picked up a big 1-0 victory on the road against Hamburg.

Nürnberg nearly struck first when Timothy Chandler forced a good save from new Hamburg goalkeeper Rene Adler. A few minutes later the action was at the other end when Raphael Schäfer saved a Heiko Westermann header.

Adler again came up huge at the end of the half saving Timm Klose's header and then the rebound attempt from Alexander Esswein.

The goal from Balitsch would come halfway through the second half. Per Nilsson powered a header off of the crossbar. Balitsch was in the right place at the right time and smashed the ball into the back of the net for the lead.

Hamburg had two great opportunities to score the equalizer but failed at both. Westermann saw another header saved onto the post, and Marcell Jansen's stoppage time header struck the crossbar.