Third win in third friendly

Hertha faced SV Babelsberg 03 in front of 1,000 fans in their third friendly of pre-season. Number 1 Alexander Schwolow made his first appearance of the season, playing the first 45 minutes after sitting out the opening two friendlies in Neuruppin.

The ‘Old Lady’ began the game with a lot of possession and twice looked to take an early lead through Suat Serdat, but opposition goalkeeper Marco Flügel was on hand (6’, 8’). However, the opening goal of the game came at the other end: Babelsberg striker Daniel Frahm, who was once part of the Hertha academy, found the far corner to give his side the lead (16’). The goal didn’t change the run of play and Hertha continued to attack, finding their answer eight minuted later through Davie Selke, who headed home a Lukas Klünter cross to equalise (24’). In the 35th minute, Petar Lela missed a chance for the home side to go ahead again with his header, and Hertha responded instantly. After some fine work from Santiago Ascacíbar and Lukas Klünter, Dannis Jastrzembski crossed to Serdar, who this time couldn’t be denied, scoring his first goal in a Hertha shirt to give his side the advantage (36’). Five minutes later, Schwolow ensured the scores didn’t change again before the break with a fantastic effort to prevent the ball hitting the top corner.

Like in the previous two friendlies, head coach Pál Dárdai sent out an almost-completely changed side for the second half, only Jordan Torunarigha and Ruwen Werthmüller returning from the dressing rooms. One of the half0time substitutes, Jhon Córdoba, needed only four minutes to find the back of the net and increase the lead to 3-1 (49’). Our side continued to play on the front foot but found it tough to break through a defence that was standing very compact. Fifteen minutes before full time, Anton Kade narrowly missed the target with an effort from a narrow angle (75'), two minutes before winning the ball high and being denied by the outrushing opposition keeper (77'). An 88th-minute Dodi Lukébakio free kick from just over 20 metres was off target, and the scoreline remained 3-1. "The first half was good, as was the beginning of the second half. After that, we lacked depth and finishing. But for this stage of pre-season, I am very satisfied," said our head coach in summary.

Hertha BSC (first half): Schwolow - Klünter, Stark, Torunarigha, Plattenhardt - Ascacíbar - Jastrezembski, Werthmüller, Serdar, Dilrosun - Selke

Hertha BSC (second half): Körber - Zeefuik, Gechter, Torunarigha, Netz - Mittelstädt - Lukébakio, Werthmüller, Michelbrink, Kade - Córdoba

Goals: 1-0 Frahn (16'.), 1-1 Selke (24'), 1-2 Serdar (36'), 1-3 Córdoba (49')

Referee: Tobias Hagemann

Location: Karl-Liebknecht-Stadion, Potsdam

Attendance: 1,000