Hertha Berlin Games in Hand
After not playing for a couple of weeks due to a Covid-19 outbreak in the Hertha camp, the capital side had slipped down to second bottom in the Bundesliga standings as other teams around them picked up points. However, now it was time for Berlin to try and reduce the deficit as they were back in action in their rescheduled fixtures against Mainz and Freiburg. These games in hand were a real chance for Hertha to turn around what looked a dire situation as they currently sat in the relegation zone, but with three more games still to play on their fellow strugglers at the foot of the table, the reality was that a finish as high as ninth this season was still possible when they kicked off in Mainz. Therefore, points were priceless. Let’s see how they got on.
Featured Game 1 – Mainz 1-1 Hertha Berlin
Hertha may have a higher potential end position for this campaign than other teams at the bottom, but most players would rather have points in the bag than to be scrapping for them at a desperate time when the pressure is really on. A good result was far from assured as well for Hertha as they visited one of Germany’s form sides in Mainz. Since Bo Svensson’s arrival as coach, the team, who were in Hertha’s place second from bottom not so long ago, have started to string together a run of top performances and consequently a number of wins have followed. The hosts’ systematic approach at both ends of the pitch meant that this game was never going to be easy for Berlin.
The signs of this were clear from the off in the game. Mainz dominated possession with the newfound swagger of a team much further up the table than twelfth, but the control of the ball was not just for show either and chances appeared to be just around the corner. The initial cause of concern for the away side came when a succession of Moussa Niakhaté long throws were propelled into the penalty area on the quarter-hour mark. The first of these may have caught the visitors by surprise, and almost at their peril, as the hurled ball looped over everybody in the box except for Jean-Paul Boëtius waiting at the far post. If only he had been able to sort his feet out, then he may have had more luck diverting his volleyed effort into the net, however the ball just got stuck under him and keeper Schwolow collected gratefully. Nevertheless, this was not to be the end of the opportunities from the long throws, and it was Boëtius again involved second time around. Niakhaté again prepared to launch one into the danger area from the sideline, but Hertha seemed more expectant on this occasion after the scare just moments earlier. The ball came in only to be met by a defensive head; however, the attempted clearance was poor and it fell at the feet once more of the Dutchman Boëtius on the left of the six yard box. With more conviction than previously, the midfielder turned his body and the ball in one swift manoeuvre, only to see his effort rattle the crossbar. It was clever if unrewarded try and Berlin survived again, but the home team were getting closer.
Therefore, the fact that Hertha Berlin was the side to get the go-ahead goal came as a shock. It was a classic case of the away team riding out pressure before snatching a goal from a set-piece and when Stefan Bell brought down Matheus Cunha in the Mainz half, the opportunity arose. Márton Dárdai, son of manager Pal Dárdai, was the player standing over the free kick and his delivery towards the far stick was more than inviting. It was begging to be headed home by an onrushing Hertha player, and Lucas Tousart was the man to provide the obliging touch. His glanced effort found the far bottom corner past Robin Zentner between the posts and the Frenchman, who arrived for a big transfer fee from Lyon last summer, claimed his first goal in the capital club’s colours. The lead was the visitors’ but for how long?
As short as possible if Mainz wing-back Philipp Mwene had anything to say about it and he certainly left his mark on proceedings just four minutes after Tousart’s opener. He too had yet to score for his team at kick-off, but he undoubtedly topped his opponent in this game of firsts. When Mainz had been probing earlier through a combination of balls into the box and good, quick short passing, what they actually required to beat the Hertha back line was long range thunderbolt. On 40 minutes, Mwene cut in from the left and unleashed a screamer into the top corner that no goalie was getting anywhere near. It took something special to draw Mainz level, but no one could argue that they deserved anything less as they headed into the break.
After an entertaining first half, the reality of the value of a point may have been emphasised to both sets of players: for Mainz, it was another step towards mathematically securing their spot in next season’s top-flight, whereas for Hertha it meant starting to close the gap with still a further couple of games in hand, the second of those to come against rock-bottom Schalke. Therefore, more points were up for grabs for the visitors and the sensible move seemed to be to hold what they had for the remainder of the contest, which made the second period into a quieter affair. That was for one major chance. One point was good, but how Hertha would have appreciated all three and their substitute Krzysztof Piatek had the guilt-edged opportunity to give them just that. Good play down the left wing led to an effort for the Polish striker a mere few yards from goal, after the ball was cut back from the by-line. However, Piatek was to replicate Boëtius from the first half with his chance and got his feet tangled. The Pole did get an effort away, but really should have tried with his left foot rather than his predominant right. The attempt was awkward and he could only manage to steer the ball back from where it came, rather than towards the net. After only coming onto the field of play two minutes prior, Piatek may be excused for missing the chance, but if it had been converted instead, Hertha fans may have been sitting easier on their sofas knowing that they would be on the same number of points as Köln in the play-off spot above them.
Featured Game 2 – Hertha Berlin 3-0 Freiburg
In the second of their midweek games, Hertha have arguably just pulled off their greatest performance this campaign so far in a dominant home display that never saw them look anything less than the inevitable victors. The win came at the perfect moment too for the capital club as it does wonders for their survival hopes. With still a further game in hand to be played next Wednesday against already relegated rock bottom Schalke, Hertha have jumped out of the drop zone after their resounding victory up to 14th spot in the table. Their end to the season looks to be a lot brighter and it certainly will be if they replicate the way they outperformed their opponents Freiburg in this one.
Although Freiburg did control possession, especially in the early stages, Berlin keeper Alexander Schwolow, who actually joined from the Black Forest side in the summer, remained fairly untested throughout the duration of the contest. At the other end, however, the Hertha forwards played with a vigour that the visiting defence found too hot to handle on a number of occasions. This may have been due to the whole host of changes to the starting line-up that coach Pal Dárdai made after only playing three days prior. This meant that the whole team was fresh and prepared to break quickly on the counter and the front three for the hosts epitomised this. The two wingers Dilrosun and Radonjic provided a constant wide threat, but it was Polish centre-forward Krzysztof Piatek who scored the all-important opening goal. In truth, he was only on hand to score from close range after Dilrosun had done most of the hard work fashioning a strike from the edge of the area, which fizzed low towards goal only to be pushed into the path of Piatek by goalkeeper Florian Müller. The German stopper potentially should have done better with the effort than to parry it straight to the lurking striker, but credit has to go to the Pole for doing what all good forwards do and be in the right place at the right time. His slotted finish across goal found the far corner to give Hertha a priceless lead on the quarter hour mark.
It would not be long as well before the home side’s lead was doubled. Piatek has not been the most prolific of strikers for Hertha since joining the club last January, however veteran right-back Peter Pekarik was probably only above the goalkeeper in the list of players most likely to get the second goal. But, after Nemanja Radonjic twisted this way and that to deceive the Freiburg defender, his cross into the box found the head of Pekarik who steered his attempt towards the far corner to claim just his third goal of the season. The elation of notching the second was evident from Pekarik’s celebration and understandably so for a player in his ninth season in Berlin, therefore the strike to put his team on course for the most vital of wins would have meant the world to him.
Although 2-0 down, Freiburg still never really posed much of a threat for the hosts, even despite changes they made right at the start of the second half. Christian Streich clearly felt that an injection of creativity was necessary and brought off the defensive-minded Schlotterbeck and Santamaria for the more attack-focused Keitel and Grifo. The latter of the two coming on, Vincenzo Grifo, had been included in the most recent Italy squad and has performed admirably for the Black Foresters this campaign, however he had little impact on proceedings to the dismay of his manager. Any Freiburg attempts were ultimately in vain, as their opponents added a third goal late on to seal the victory. Arguably the man of the match after some vibrant play on the left-hand side throughout, Radonjic capped a magnificent display with a superb solo effort with the Freiburg defence reeling. Spaces had opened up for Hertha as their visitors were required to press forward chasing the game, and the Serbian Radonjic took full advantage. With the ball seemingly glued to his toes, he weaved through the back line from left to right before stroking an effort high into the roof of the net back across Müller in goal. A third goal added a bit of gloss to the score line, but in truth 3-0 was fully deserved for Hertha.
The past two games for the club from the capital have been absolutely crucial for their survival bid and, with both coming against tough opponents, four points from a possible six will have delighted coach Pal Dárdai. The results have already seen them leapfrog a number of teams around them in the table and Hertha will face fellow strugglers Arminia and Schalke in the next two fixtures. The prospect of Bundesliga safety should therefore be more realistic for Berlin than for the host of others below them, and if they do survive then it would simply be a chance for the club to try and put a very disappointing season behind them in the hope of returning focus to greater ambitions. For a side who have spent a lot of money in recent transfer windows, they should really be fighting for European qualification rather than for their place in the league come August.
What to Look Forward to Next Matchday
Stuttgart vs. Augsburg
Borussia Dortmund vs. RB Leipzig
Werder Bremen vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Wolfsburg vs. Union Berlin
Hoffenheim vs. Schalke
Bayern München vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach
Köln vs. Freiburg
Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Mainz
Hertha Berlin vs. Arminia Bielefeld
Including yet another vital game this week for Hertha at home to Bielefeld on Sunday, Matchday 32 in the Bundesliga offers up a selection of contests bound to have huge implications at both ends of the table. Dortmund host Leipzig in what should be a thrilling encounter as the home side hope to put pressure on Frankfurt and Wolfsburg in the race for the Champions League, however the greater meaning of a Borussia win would be that Bayern München would be crowned champions of Germany even before their game with Gladbach kicks off. It is sure to be interesting.