The sporting conditions in the capital remain clear. 1. FC Union deservedly won against Hertha BSC at the start of the Bundesliga. Also because coach Urs Fischer had his team attack a weak point in Hertha’s defence. By Till Oppermann
Ketwurst with Schultheiss beer, East and West met at Ostkreuz S-Bahn station at 11 a.m. It was friendly. Unlike in previous years, the schedule prevented the tension between 1. FC Union and Hertha BSC from building up weeks before the local derby.
And indeed, the duel for the city championship on Saturday felt different than previous encounters. While there were flares from the Hertha fans and a storm by the Unioners at the first first division duel in autumn 2019, the curves left it with a few smoke pots today. After the Hertha-Ultras had taken the jerseys off their players in April after the home defeat against Union, they said goodbye to their team on Saturday with warm applause.
Union Berlin wins the capital derby
The title of city champion remains in Köpenick. 1. FC Union Berlin won the opening game of the 60th Bundesliga season 3-1 against Hertha BSC. Siebatcheu, Becker and Knoche scored for the irons, Lukebakio for blue and white.more
Hertha deserves to lose
The new coach Sandro Schwarz was delighted: “The fans reacted extremely well after the game.” In terms of sport, the players really didn’t deserve it. Union won the game well-deservedly 3-1 and rarely encountered real resistance from Hertha during the 90 minutes in the Alte Försterei. Accordingly, Schwarz had no praise for his team. The core is to help and support each other, he explained, but: “We have to be so critical and honest: we didn’t show that today.”
Hertha deservedly lost, as illustrated by statistics such as 19:7 shots on goal, 113.4 to 108.9 kilometers run and 53 to 47 percent duels won – each for Union. With the fourth derby win in a row, the people from Köpenick finally made things clear when it came to the question of sporting dominance in the city.
Fischer recognizes weakness
Despite the spirit of optimism surrounding the election of the new club president Kay Bernstein and three newcomers in the starting eleven, Hertha’s performance was shockingly reminiscent of the previous season, when an insecure and poorly coordinated team staggered towards relegation for months.
“Hertha is doing better than last season,” said Union captain Christopher Trimmel after the game, but Urs Fischer’s coaching team still managed to identify a clear weakness on Hertha’s side. In the first few minutes, Union’s back three with Paul Jaeckel, Robin Knoche and new signing Diogo Leite kept playing diagonal balls behind Hertha’s new right-back Jonjoe Kenny.
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Hertha’s right side was vulnerable
Even in the short pass game, the Irons tried repeatedly on Hertha’s right side. Unions Julian Ryerson, who played as a railer on the left, repeatedly pulled past Kenny with simple body tricks and had the ball on his strong foot. Only a flight by Hertha keeper Christensen prevented the hosts from making it 1-0 in the 26th minute after a Ryerson long-range shot.
It was therefore no surprise that Union took the lead seven minutes later via this side. The quick and creative Sheraldo Becker broke through on the left wing and served his strike partner Jordan Siebatcheu a butter-soft cross with his weak foot, which the US boy headed into the net for his first Bundesliga goal.
Hertha’s problems lie deeper
Kenny did not do well but it would be unfair to blame him alone for Union coming through his side again shortly after the break. Because before Janik Haberer Becker made it 2-0 with a fine lob in the 50th minute, Hertha’s pre-season winner Dodi Lukebakio and veteran Kevin-Prince Boateng also missed out on their opponents.
Basically, the old lady’s problems seem to be more serious than just an overwhelmed right-back. “We lacked quality and intensity here, we weren’t there as we should have been – that wasn’t good enough,” analyzed goalkeeper Oliver Christensen. With that he hit the nail on the head.
Marvin Plattenhardt helps Marc Oliver Kempf and Filip Uremovic up
A glimmer of hope for Hertha
The game was decided after Becker’s 2-0 at the latest. When Robin Knoche then scored the 3-0 with a header, one would have wished for the Hertha team that a boxing rule would have been applied. Because in this sport, fights in which a participant can no longer defend themselves are broken off. Referee Marco Fritz followed FIFA rules and allowed the last 30 minutes to play, with Union managing the game.
“If you get three and you’re high back, it’s not easy to run into the wall,” Hertha captain Marvin Plattenhardt apologized. You have to stay positive, added Lukebakio. His consolation goal shortly before the end could at least give Hertha some hope for the upcoming games. Together with the newcomers Wilfried Kanga and Chidera Ejuke, Hertha indicated that there is more speed in the squad this season than last year. The fans will be happy with any straw that saves them from another season in the relegation loop.
Broadcast: rbb24 Inforadio, August 6th, 2022, 8:15 p.m
