The defender Papadopoulos, officially contracted to Leverkusen but loaned off to Hamburg via RB Leipzig last month, headed Nicolai Mueller's high cross into the far left corner in the 76th.

Hamburg were the more active team, with Bobby Wood aiming inches wide in the 47th and Mueller stopped at the last instance a few minutes later.

Leverkusen substitute Stefan Kiessling was denied a late equalizer by the crossbar on their only chance on a wet night.

Hamburg climbed back past Ingolstadt into the relegation play-off spot in 16th place after losing their first two games of the year.

Leverkusen suffered their second straight defeat and are ninth, six points shy of a European berth.