Derby shame for Hertha, Derby triumph for Union! The Charlottenburgers also lose the third city derby this season against local rivals Union from Köpenick. And how!
By Roberto Lamprecht, Paul Gorgas and Sebastian Karkos
The 1:4 disassembly! It had previously drawn 0-2 in the first leg and 2-3 in the DFB Cup. Instead of rearing up in the relegation battle, Hertha’s next harmless appearance ready for the second division. Sky expert Lothar Matthäus: “This is how a relegated player plays.” Keeper Marcel Lotka (20): “That was not enough, of course. Something like this mustn’t happen to us again. Whatever the fuck, we have to get our points.”
Hertha for the first time since the 0: 4 against Bayern at the beginning of 2020 in front of a full stadium (74,667 spectators) – and with a completely changed starting eleven compared to the 1: 2 in Leverkusen. New coach Felix Magath (68) brings five (!) new ones.
Underneath a hammer! Right-back Julian Eitschberger (18/never in the professional squad before) from Hertha’s A youth makes his Bundesliga debut on the left. Already the 35th Hertha player used this season – league high!
Magath before the game on Sky: “I don’t know him either. He only trained with me twice. But he is greedy for the ball and brave. We need a player like that.” But it doesn’t work. Hardly any good ball actions – and Eitschberger doesn’t look good even before the 0:1.
You can read all the details about the derby here in the live ticker!
Unchallenged Becker flank from the left. The ball sails past Hertha substitute goalkeeper Lotka (5th bankruptcy in the 5th game). Eitschberger cannot hold Haraguchi at the far post. And the ex-Hertha player (2014 to 2018), who never played a major role in Blau-Weiss, made the deserved lead for Union with a diving header (31st).
Bitter: Even with a header from Trimmel shortly afterwards, Eitschberger can’t interfere. Halfway through, Magath breaks off the experiment – BZ grade 5! Eitschberger will still become a professional and has already signed. His contract will take effect in the summer.
After the break Hertha hope: Unions Baumgartl first cancels the offside, then shoots the ball to his arm after Belfodil crosses and from there into his own goal to make it 1-1 (49′).
But the draw doesn’t last long: Gießelmann’s cross finds Prömel in the middle, who is on the ball in front of Kempf – the renewed Union lead (53rd), three minutes and 36 seconds after the 1-1. And Hertha’s 15th (!) header goal this season. Becker counterattacked with a shot at the far corner (74th) for Union’s third goal, Michel left (85th) to make it 1: 4, perfecting the Derby humiliation.
And the fans? Also showing her riotous face. At the beginning of the first half, the Hertha supporters (approx. 70 Bengalos and 5 firecrackers) ignited and banged. At the beginning of the 2nd half the Unioners (a total of around 200 Bengalos). It will be expensive for both clubs!
When the active fan scene returns, a frustration banner against financiers and the president hangs in the east stand of Hertha fans: “Windhorst and Gegenbauer out!” A decision will be made at the general meeting in May.
The players also get fan frustration. They will be asked to remove their shirts. Reason: You are not worthy to wear the Hertha jersey. Closing words from Magath: “Union was better. The second goal was the turning point. We couldn’t really assert ourselves.”
