In the game, however, there was nothing to be seen from his team. Union dominated the Berlin derby at will and Hertha could only thank goalkeeper Marcel Lotka that it didn’t become clear early in the game – also because Eitschberger had big problems on the flank.
In the fourth minute, Lotka parried a Baumgartl header from close range. The 20-year-old showed further strong deeds against Niko Gießelmann (13th), Taiwo Awoniyi (17th) and Becker (29th). Union was only able to use the fifth big chance, Haraguchi redeemed the guests with the 1-0 with a diving header (31st).
Brief glimmer of hope for Hertha
Only then did Hertha make the first good moves. Myziane Maolida shot a volley from eleven meters but just wide of the goal (38th). After the break, a Union defender took over the scoring for Hertha. Baumgartl stumbled the ball on his arm while attempting to clear and from there into his own goal – the 1:1 (49th).
However, there was no sign of an upswing from the “old lady”. Just four minutes later, Prömel brought Union back into the lead, heading in from a Gießelmann cross to make it 2-1 (53′). Big cheers from the 12,000 Union fans in the Berlin Olympic Stadium, which was sold out for the first time since January 2020 with 74,667 spectators.