Defeat in Berlin derby
Felix Magath brought in five changes from last weekend’s trip to Leverkusen. Marcel Lotka was in goal for the Blue-Whites, as Alexander Schwolow suffered a thigh injury and was out of the game, and there was a Bundesliga debut at left back, as Julian Eitschberger started in place of Maximilian Mittelstädt who was a substitute. Alongside them, Linus Gechter, Stevan Jovetić and Myziane Maolida all returned, with Niklas Stark injured and both Suat Serdar and Ishak Belfodil dropping to the bench. Alongside Stark, Marvin Plattenhardt also missed with injury.
Jovetić out early on, Haraguchi scores for Union
For the first time since January 2020, the Olympiastadion was sold out, but despite the unbelievable Hertha support, it was Union who had the first chances, with Lotka doing fantastically to deny both Sheraldo Becker and Timo Baumgartl from subsequent attempts (3’, 4’). At the other end, Jovetić miscued as he attempted to volley a floated ball into the box from Linus Gechter (6’). It was then Lotka’s turn to be tested once again, as both Niko Gießelmann (13’) and Taiwo Awoniyi (17’) were denied by the Poland U21 international. Felix Magath was then forced into a change on 21 minutes, as our number 19 was forced off. It was the side from Köpenick who then took the lead, as former Herthaner Genki Haraguchi headed home for the opener (31’). A few minutes later, a massive chance for the equaliser, but Maolida volleyed just wide from eight yards following a good cross from Tousart (38’). The same was to be said with Christopher Trimmel’s header at the other end and then Maolida once again failed to hit the target, so the final whistle blew on an eventful first half with Hertha narrowly behind.
Hope from the equaliser quickly extinguished
The second 45 began fantastically from a Hertha point of view: Tousart sent Belfodil through down the right and he crossed looking for Maolida. That ball in did not reach the Frenchman, however, as Baumgartl put through his own net for the equaliser (49’)! It was a very eventful start to the second half, as after Boyata was unable to head in a second for Hertha, Grischa Prömel did net with his head to restore Union’s lead (53’). It was a blow for the Blue-Whites, who had started so well in the second half but had to remain wary of the counter-attacking away team. One of those quick transitions resulted in the third goal just over 15 minutes from time, as Becker outpaced Boyata and finished well beyond Lotka for three (74’). Magath reacted to this goal with a double change, bringing the fresh attacking legs of Serdar and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp for the final stages. Sadly, there was no answer to be found, despite chancesL: A Peter Pekarík effort was blocked by the defence, and Belfodil’s rebound was very well saved by Frederik Rønnow in the Union goal. It was a substitute for the away side who ended up hammering the final bow onto an evening to forget for Hertha: Sven Michel scored five minutes from time to make it 4-1.
Hertha BSC: Lotka; Pekarík, Boyata, Kempf, Eitschberger (46’ Dárdai); Gechter, Tousart, Ascacíbar (75‘ Ekkelenkamp); Darida (46‘ Mittelstädt), Myziane (75‘ Serdar); Jovetić (21‘ Belfodil)
1. FC Union: Rønnow; Baumgartl, Knoche, Heintz (72‘ Ryerson); Trimmel, Khedira, Gießelmann (72‘ Oczipka); Prömel, Haraguchi (62‘ Schäfer); Becker (82‘ Michel), Awoniyi (82‘ Voglsammer)
Goals: 0-1 Haraguchi (31‘), 1-1 Baumgartl (49, OG), 1-2 Prömel (53‘), 1-3 Becker (74‘), 1-4 Michel (85‘)
Referee: Sven Jablonski
Yellow cards: Lotka, Jovetić, Kempf, Tousart
Attendance: 74.667 (sold out)