In Hamburg, beneath the noise of a packed Volksparkstadion, Rodrigo Huescas took a significant step back into European football. The Mexican returned to action for Copenhagen after a year-long recovery from a cruciate ligament rupture, starting the FIFA-window friendly against Hamburg and playing the opening 45 minutes.
A return in Hamburg
- Huescas completed his rehabilitation from the serious knee injury that had kept him out for a year.
- Copenhagen selected the former Cruz Azul academy player in their starting side for the friendly in Germany.
- He played the first half in front of more than 55,000 spectators at the Volksparkstadion.
- After the match, the 22-year-old described the occasion as an important first stage in rebuilding his place at the Danish club.
The setting gave the comeback an unusual weight for a friendly. Copenhagen and Hamburg supporters share a long-standing bond, helping produce a large and lively crowd for a match played during the international break.
“It feels incredible. I am very happy,” Huescas said. “It was a great test. I was a little nervous because of the atmosphere, the stadium and the opponent. I think I had a good first half, and we have to keep going like this.”
Back in Copenhagen’s plans
For Huescas, returning in such a setting was far removed from the quieter conditions often attached to a player’s first game after a long lay-off.
“It was absolutely amazing,” he said. “Walking through the tunnel, I could feel the nerves. Normally, comebacks happen in closed-door friendlies, but this was in a big stadium against a very good team.”
He also thanked Copenhagen’s coaching staff and teammates for their support through the rehabilitation process.
The immediate target is to regain a regular starting role in the Danish Superliga while also competing for minutes in the Conference League. Copenhagen, known as the Lions, now move towards a decisive league meeting with Midtjylland this weekend, with top spot in Denmark at stake.
