Hamburger SV beat SC Verl 3-0 in the DFB-Pokal, their 3-4-3 proving more efficient than the hosts’ possession-oriented 4-2-3-1. Verl had 57% of the ball and attempted 13 shots to Hamburg’s 10, but the visitors carried the greater threat in decisive areas and registered six efforts on target, compared with four from the home side. The underlying numbers suggested a much closer contest than the final score: Hamburg produced 1.45 xG, only narrowly above Verl’s 1.33, yet their sharper finishing created a comfortable margin. Albert Gronbaek supplied two of Hamburg’s three goals, giving their attack the cutting edge needed to exploit transitions and punish Verl despite having just 43% possession. Goalkeeping also helped preserve the gap, with Hamburg’s goalkeeper saving all four shots on target for a 100% save rate, while Verl’s goalkeeper stopped 50% of the six efforts faced. Lars Erbst oversaw a tie in which Hamburg’s compact structure and superior execution mattered more than territorial control. Hamburg advance with their early-season momentum strengthened.