Thorsten Fink's unbeaten reign as coach of Hamburg continued as the northern Germany side beat Nurnberg 2-0 at the HSV-Arena. Jose Paolo Guerrero and Marcell Jansen were both on target as Hamburg moved up to 11th in the table, their highest league position since the start of the season.

The win extended their unbeaten run to seven games, which started before Fink arrived with a victory while Frank Arnesen was temporarily in charge, as they leave the relegation zone three points behind them. After an even opening ten minutes, Guerrero went close to scoring with a header from a tight angle which struck the outside of the post.

Nurnberg responded well with Daniel Didavi sending their first shot of the game wide of goal in the 20th minute. Three minutes later, Hamburg goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny got his first touch when he saved Tomas Pekhart's header.

Drobny immediately sent the ball long to Guerrero, who beat Timmy Simons and then shot inside the near post past Raphael Schafer to put Hamburg in front. It was a goal against the run of play and it remained that way as Nurnberg kept pressing in search of a way back into the game.

They were unfortunate not to equalise in the 37th minute when another Pekhart header this time beat Drobny, but struck the top of the crossbar. Pekhart hit the woodwork again in the 58th minute with another header as the Bavarians continued to pose the greater threat.

But Hamburg again broke free to score, with Jansen this time going through and beating Schafer with a left-footed shot. Although Nurnberg did not let their heads drop, and they continued to attack as they had done for much of the game, it was simply not their day and there was no way back for Dieter Hecking's side.