A huge three points away in Augsburg!
Felix Magath made five changes to the side which started the derby last weekend as his side travelled to Augsburg. At left back, Marvin Plattenhardt returned to the side for Julian Eitschberger, with Prince Boateng, Suat Serdar, Marco Richter and Davie Selke all coming in for Linus Gechter (illness), Vladimír Darida (substitute), Myziane Maolida (not in squad) and Stevan Jovetić (thigh). The Blue-Whites’ 4-2-3-1 system was faced by an Augsburg side starring on-loan Herthaner Arne Maier, who started for the home side.
Hard-fought first half ends goalless
The home side were the first to create chances, as Michael Gregoritsch and Mads Pedersen both had shots off target in the opening five minutes. At the other end, an attempt from Serdar was blocked by a defender (7’). Then, Marcel Lotka in the Hertha goal was called into action, denying Alfred Finnbogason’s effort set up by a cross from Maier (11’). Not long afterwards, Gregoritsch got a header off on the edge of the area, but was not able to direct it on goal (16’). Our closest attempt of the game thus far came from Peter Pekarík – Plattenhardt crossed to find him at the back post, but he could not divert the ball towards goal (21’). At the half continued, the match began to break down into a gritty affair, with lots of tough tackles flying in and a lot of yellow cards. The closest Augsburg came to troubling Lotka in the rest of the half was a long-range Gregoritsch free-kick, which fizzed onto the roof of the net (35’). Just before the break, both Richter and Serdar also had efforts from distance, which flew well over. A hard-fought half came to an end with both sides looking for a goal after the break.
Best possible start to the second half
There were no personnel changes as the second period got underway, but there was a change in the scoreline! After winning the ball back in midfield and playing a one-two with Selke, Richter sprinted for the bye-line and cut the ball back for Serdar, who sumptuously back-heeled the ball into the net through two sets of legs – a moment of magic to make it 1-0 (49’)! That gave Felix Magath’s side momentum which they looked to use, Serdar setting up Richter later on with our number 23 curling wide (55’). A minute later at the other end, some chaos led to Gregoritsch heading onto the crossbar – a big let-off for Hertha! The Austrian Gregoritsch was also in defensive action for his side, as he deflected a well struck Plattenhardt free-kick over the crossbar (68’). Augsburg piled more and more bodies forward as the game drew on, which gave Hertha opportunities to counter attack: Selke was able to power past two defenders and carry the ball over half the pitch or more before blazing over from 20 yards (72’). Iago then had came close out of the blue for FCA, but his shot was off target. Despite having everything thrown at them, Hertha’s defenders stood rock solid and secured an absolutely vital three points to take back to Berlin!
FC Augsburg: Gikiewicz; Gumny (73’ Framberger), Gouweleeuw (C), Oxford (84’ Zeqiri), Iago; Maier (73’ Morávek), Dorsch, Hahn, Pedersen (56’ Vargas); Gregoritsch, Finnbogason (56’ Pepi)
Hertha BSC: Lotka; Pekarík, Boyata (C), Kempf, Plattenhardt; Ascacíbar, Tousart (90‘ Dárdai), Richter (69‘ Kade), Prince (69‘ Stark), Serdar (78‘ Mittelstädt); Selke
Goals: 0-1 Serdar (49‘)
Referee: Marco Fritz
Yellow cards: Oxford, Gumny, Framberger; Selke, Boateng, Boyata, Richter
Attendance: 28,533