Hertha BSC continues its upward trend in the 2nd Bundesliga. The Berliners also passed the acid test at 1. FC Kaiserslautern’s birthday party on Saturday evening and achieved their fifth win in their last six competitive games with a 1-0 (1-0).
Luca Schuler (20th) scored the decisive goal in the first half. With now 20 points, the Berliners are eighth, moving closer to FCK (seventh) and the top group.
Celebratory FCK fans – but definitely Hertha on the field
The Kaiserslautern fans provided the first eye-catcher of the evening before kick-off. They celebrated the FCK’s 125th anniversary with a huge choreography across all the stands and thousands of flags. However, the “Red Devils” were initially unable to contribute anything to the celebratory atmosphere.
Hertha, self-confident after their recent victories, got into the game quickly. Fabian Reese (14th) fired the first warning shot, but it narrowly missed the Lauter goal. After the hosts appeared in the penalty area, Hertha BSC struck. Schuler processed a Winkler cross quickly and scored to make it 1-0.
Both goalkeepers in focus
But the “Red Devils” struck back immediately – at least almost. Mika Haas (22nd) had the chance to equalize, but was denied by Tjark Ernst’s strong reaction in the Hertha goal. After that, the Berliners stabilized more and more and had the next good opportunity with a header from Reese – which Lautern’s keeper Julian Krahl destroyed.
The last exclamation mark in the first round also belongs to coach Stefan Leitl’s team. However, Kennet Eichhorn (45th) hit a shot from 18 meters onto the post.
FCK goalkeeper Krahl on the post against Reese
After the restart, the Berliners continued the first half. Reese had the chance to increase from half right. But the Hertha captain didn’t receive the cross from outside quite cleanly and so the angle became too acute and Reese was denied by Krahl (55′). The “Old Lady” remained visually superior.
Kaiserslautern was only able to set accents at certain points, for example with a header from Ivan Prtajin (62nd), which Ernst safely defused in the Hertha goal. Afterwards, FCK coach Torsten Lieberknecht tried to provide new impetus with offensive changes. Among others, captain Marlon Ritter (63rd) came.
Toni Leistner saves for the defeated Hertha goalkeeper
The “Red Devils” came now. Luca Sirch (66th) fired a warning shot. No problem for Ernst. The hosts increasingly established themselves in the Hertha half. Little by little it became more difficult. Naatan Skyttä (70th) escaped from a free kick quickly taken by Ritter on the half-left and also put the ball past Ernst. But visiting defender Toni Leistner saved with a header in front of the line.
Berlin had a hard time with relief attacks, but occasionally managed to take the pace out of the game with longer ball passages. So Kaiserslautern was increasingly running out of time. Haas (90th, 90th+2) tested Ernst twice more. And when the FCK still celebrated a goal from Prtajin (90+3) in stoppage time, the assistant flagged it for offside – and finally pulled the plug on the celebratory mood.
FCK suffered its first home defeat under Torsten Lieberknecht. Only Hertha BSC was able to celebrate their third away win and their seventh clean sheet of the season.
Lautern in Kiel, Hertha against Braunschweig
After the international break, Kaiserslautern will be guests at Holstein Kiel on Sunday afternoon (November 23rd, 2025, 1:30 p.m.). Hertha welcomes Eintracht Braunschweig to the Berlin Olympic Stadium on Friday evening (6:30 p.m.).