The staff
No training without cancellations. Hertha coach Felix Magath had to do without new players in every unit. A cold has spread to the Bundesliga soccer team. “The players obviously infected each other,” said Magath. Not optimal preparation for the most important game of the season so far. Captain Dedryck Boyata, like central defenders Linus Gechter and Marton Dardai, should be available again for the BVB game on Saturday (3:30 p.m.). Left-back Marvin Plattenhardt worked individually during the week, and the coach is optimistic that the ex-national player will be fit in time. Magath relies on Plattenhardt’s crosses and standard situations. Davie Selke, who was last injured in training, is available for the away game.
Out: Alexander Schwolow (tendon injury), Kelian Nsona (rehabilitation training), Lukas Klünter (shoulder problems), Dong-jun Lee (ankle injury), Linus Gechter (cold), Anton Kade (cold), Niklas Stark (rehabilitation training)
Form
Hertha suffered their 18th defeat of the season against Mainz. The Berliners were only worse three times in their history. The 2-1 defeat at home against FSV was bitter, because Hertha could have gotten rid of all relegation worries with a draw. “We were disappointed, we were only a few minutes short of staying up,” said Magath. “We’re on the right track and have been delivering good performances lately. We believe we can achieve something in Dortmund.”
The record on the last day of the game is catastrophic for Hertha. In the past seven seasons, the Berliners remained without a win on matchday 34 and only scored one of 21 possible points. There was rarely anything to celebrate for the blue and white supporters at the end of the season. The record in Dortmund does not look any better for Hertha, only four meager victories jumped out in the Westfalenstadion. The last victory dates from 2013 (2:1).
The opponent
Borussia Dortmund had a disappointing season despite being runners-up. BVB rarely showed its normal form, missed its goals for the season in the Champions League and in the DFB Cup. Goalscorer Erling Haaland is said goodbye to Hertha. The Norwegian has scored 61 times in 66 Bundesliga games, becoming the youngest player in history to score that many goals. “Players and officials are being said goodbye,” says coach Marco Rose. “When the game starts, I expect a focused performance from all players.” Even if BVB is no longer about anything, there shouldn’t be any presents for Hertha.
Hertha in focus
Marcel Lotka was one of the positive surprises in this disappointing Hertha season. In the winter he was the number five goalkeeper, but he has now become a regular keeper. However, Lotka, who was born in Duisburg, has signed a contract with Borussia Dortmund for the new season as a keeper in the second team. After the strong performances of the past few weeks, Hertha wants to keep Lotka and has drawn a corresponding clause in the contract. “The courts will probably deal with that,” says manager Fredi Bobic.
Lotka herself does not comment. Against Mainz he made a serious mistake with the first goal conceded. “I didn’t think about taking the boy out now,” said coach Felix Magath. “Marcel is the one who annoys himself the most about the mistake, we need a good performance from him in Dortmund to survive there.” Eyes will likely be on Lotka away and the 20-year-old should feel the extra pressure in that game.
particularities
“The starting position isn’t that comfortable anymore,” said Magath before the BVB game. But Hertha still has it in her own hands. A draw is enough to make it into the league. In the event of a defeat against Dortmund, Stuttgart must win their home game against Cologne in order to refer Hertha to the relegation zone. “The tension is great before the game,” says Magath. “But we need this tension to give everything in Dortmund. We take care of ourselves, we have it in our own hands, unfortunately we have no influence on everything else.” Hertha have a good starting position and can lose everything on this last day of the game. The blue and white supporters think of the last relegation with horror. In 2012, the Berliners were relegated to the second division in the playoffs against Düsseldorf.
Broadcast: rbb24, May 12, 2022, 6 p.m
Source: rbb