All square at home to Hoffenheim
Head coach Sandro Schwarz was able to bring Suat Serdar back into the team for the game against TSG Hoffenheim after the international break. Hertha’s number 8 came in for Jean-Paul Boëtius, who thankfully received good news during the week. Davie Selke and Tjark Ernst, who were also both absent for the game at Mainz, returned to the bench. Augustín Rogel made his debut in blue and white over the course of the game.
Back and forth in the first half
The first chance came out of nowhere, with Serdar winning the ball in midfield and feeding Wilfried Kanga, who was able to beat Kevin Vogt, but could only fire over from close range (8’). The next chance also went Hertha’s way, who were growing into the game. Dodi Lukébakio shot from around the penalty spot, but Oliver Baumann saved his effort (16’). The away team from Sinsheim twice worked the ball into the Hertha box, with a corner taken quickly along the floor finding Andrej Kramarić, who only managed to turn the ball over (20’), before Oliver Christensen was called into action not a minute later to save a snap-shot from Munas Dabbur (21’). André Breitenreiter’s side went into the lead shortly after, with Kramarić getting his foot on a shot from Ozan Kabak to turn it past Christensen (25’).
It was a goal that was frustrating for Hertha,and the game became one largely found in midfield, with plenty of strong challenges being made. The 1-0 scoreline did not last for long though. After winning the ball back, Chidera Ejuke played a brilliant through ball to find Lukébakio, who placed a perfect finish into the far left-hand corner (37’). Moments before half time, Kramarić hit the underside of the bar and the rebound was cleared off the line by Marc Kempf, meaning the two teams went in level (45’).
The second half got underway with a change in the Blue-Whites’ defence, as Rogel came on for his first appearance – he replaced Filip Uremović in central defence. Like the opening 45 minutes, the home side created the first shot, as Ejuke’s effort from 20 yards was narrowly wide (48’). At the other end an attempt from Christoph Baumgartner also dribbled wide (54’). Two minutes later an acrobatic attempt from Lukébakio was spectacular, but too high. The match then started to be played between the boxes, with no real goalscoring opportunities. The away side did have a bit of luck, however, that the already-booked Geiger did not receive his marching orders for a tactical foul on Kanga just after the hour mark.
A combative game with few chances
Hertha were able to win nearly 60% of their duels, but clear chances remained few and far between for both sides. Schwarz called on Marco Richter and Davie Selke for fresh attacking legs, replacing Serdar and Kanga on 72 minutes. The closing stages began with an attempt from Baumgartner which was denied from close range by Christensen, before Selke gave Baumann no trouble with a long-range effort (74’, 76’). Both teams looked to score a winner in the final few minutes, with TSG shot-stopper Baumann catching an angled drive from Richter with 10 to go. Selke then failed to latch onto a fine through-ball from Jonjoe Kenny (84’), before the biggest moment of the second 45: Robert Skov put the ball in the net with four minutes to go, but the goal was ruled out due to an offside in the build-up. That was the final big chance of the game, and the introductions of Prince Boateng and Maxi Mittelstädt did not change the score. The point means Hertha have gone four games unbeaten for the first time since May 2021.
Hertha BSC: Christensen – Kenny, Uremović (46’ Rogel), Kempf, Plattenhardt (C) – Šunjić, Serdar (72’ Richter), Tousart – Ejuke, Kanga (72‘ Selke), Lukébakio (83‘ Prince)
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim: Baumann (C) – Kabak (81‘ Skov), Vogt, Nsoki (81‘ Akpoguma) – Kaderábek, Geiger (63‘ Stiller), Angeliño, Prömel, Baumgartner (81‘ Bruun Larsen) – Dabbur (61‘ Rutter), Kramarić
Goals: 0-1 Kramarić (25’), 1-1 Lukébakio (37’)
Referee: Christian Dingert
Yellow cards: Serdar, Šunjić - Geiger
Attendance: 41.653