das Hinspiel, -e

The German word "Hinspiel" is a compound noun made up of "Hin-" (which implies directionality, in this case "first") and "Spiel" (game or match). "Hinspiel" refers specifically to the first leg of a two-legged tie in sports competitions, such as football (soccer).

Similar words in German are:

• "Rückspiel" (return match or second leg)
• "Erstrundenmatch" (first-round match, although it does not necessarily imply a two-legged tie)

Differences:

• "Rückspiel" specifically refers to the second or return leg of a two-legged fixture, whereas "Hinspiel" is the first leg.
• "Erstrundenmatch" refers to the first match in a series or tournament round, not necessarily part of a two-leg competition.