The all German Champions League final was played on Saturday and a great, high tempo game it was as well. I would have liked Dortmund to have won (I am not a grest Bayern fan) but it wasn't to be.

It ended up, just in case anyone out there was living on Mars or something - 2:1 to Bayern. Arjen Robben, the villan (in Bayern eyes) of last years final had an assist in the first goal from Mandzukic in the 69th and scored the second in the last minute of regulation time. What a killer for BVB who must have thought they were in to extra time.

Dortmund came bout like a bullet train and could so easily have got that early goal they were looking for. Both keepers played blinders and kept their teams in the match until the last minute!

However, my moan from this match, glossing over some stamping by Lewandowski, is about Franck Ribéry in particular. He should have been given s red card for violent conduct when he threw up his arm into Lewandowski's face. Sure, Lewa was all over him like a rash and he should have got a yellow but Ribéry should have been off. There is no excuse for that kind of "unnatural" kind of arm movement that ends up in another players face. Some of his "swan dives" later on in the match were a disgrace as well. Why such a superbly talented player feels the need to behave like that is beyond me
One could easily suggest that Dante should have had his second yellow for the foul that brought about the penalty as well. Bayern could and perhaps, should have been down to nine men but for whatever reason, it didn't happen.

As it is a reluctant congratulations to Bayern München and thank you to Borrusia Dortmund for a great game if football.

We set off to the match on glorious sunny weather knowing that whatever happened Hertha would be presented with the 2,Bundesliga trophy and they would wave good bye to the Zweite-Liga!
The ground was already heaving when we got there and the programmes were all sold out which was a bit of a blow! Still, I had a beer out in the sunshine, soaking up the atmosphere before going to our places.

The match started up in a very upbeat mood with Hertha working hard and trying
to drive forward. The support from the fans, me included (even if I say so
myself) was superb. But, things started going a bit wrong when Nicholas Farina
scored on the break for Cottbus in the 28th minute. Salt was rubbed into the
wound by the fact there was a fairly obvious handball that was not given even
though the ref was standing just a few metres away!  That goal should never have
been given - Pah!

It got worse when Maik Franz committed a "professional foul" when he was the last man and picked up a red for doing so. It wasn't a massive chop or anything but I guess he shouldn't have barged into him on the run like that. Hertha went in at half time a goal and a man down so, things could be better!

In the second half the team worked their socks off and it was hard to tell they were a man down. Jos Luhukay made a few changes by bringing on Ben Sahar for Sami Allagui in the the 46th, Sandro Wagner for Adrian Ramos and finally, but certainly not least Peter Niemeyer for Peer Kluge in the 80th. It was great to see him come on to have a run out in this, the last game of the season. He works so hard for the team and puts in so many tackles in midfield.
Finally, Hertha broke through with a header from John Anthony Brooks. I believe it was his first professional goal so congrats to him! A crucial goal and a vital point for Hertha at the end of the season. 

After the game the team were presented with the 2.Bundesliga "trophy" and celebrated with the fans with the traditional beer showers all around! I still can't quite believe that Marcel Ndjeng passed the trophy into the crowd in the Ostkurve.  That just so wouldn't happen in England but I, for my part, think it's fantastic and shows how the fans are part of the team.  Simply superb.
Nie mehr 2.Liga!!!

There are a load of photos from the day in the Hertha Gallery in a special section I have made for it.  Check it out - its about half way down the page . .

Today Hertha are facing Energie Cottbus in the Olympiastadion on a beautiful day with blue skies and just a few white clouds. At 08:00 it is 12°C and rising with temperatures on Fruday reaching 31°C it could be a scorcher with both the weather and the football!

As I understand it, if Hertha take just one point today they will the best Zweitliga team, with the highest points total ever and I want that!!

Hertha won against Cottbus 2:1 when they last met back in December nd, prior to that our record has been good with a 2:2 draw and a 1:0 victory. We however appear to do better away against Cottbus rather than at home.  As usual, I take nothing for granted, there is still plemty of scope for things going wrong!  But the sun is shining so today is a good day to: gain a famous victory in front of the home crowd, pick up the trophy, and break the Zweitliga points record all on one day! 

Fingers crossed and thumbs held . . .

The new shirts for Hertha 2013/14 have been published in the Bild although curiously not yet directly from the club themselves until Friday the 17th. We may get a sight if them on Sunday when Hertha play Cottbus in the last match of the season. We'll see . . .

I like the home shirt with the stripes and the collar. My only reservation is the arms, I'm not sure what else could have been done with them though.

The away shirt is a bit scary but I'm sure we'll get used to it - Ha Ho He . . Hertha BSC!

Hertha are building on their squad in preparation for for the Bundesliga! So far it has been reported Hertha have signed: /will sign the following:

• Sebastian Langkamp (25) of Augsberg - Central defender 
  
•  Johannes  van den Bergh (26) of Fortuna Düsseldorf - Left-back 
  
•  Hajime Hosogai (26) of Bayer Leverkusen - Defensive midfielder
  

Clearly there is a heavy bias in these signings to the defence. Although the Bayer04 Blog have said that Hosogai played best in a central role rather than in a defensive midfield. Our defence has improved greatly since last year but we'll need depth going into the top league next season. I only hope we don't loose young, local players coming up through the ranks in the process.

Superb news for my very own Hertha blog in English that was reported originally by the Bild today that our wonderful trainer has accepted a new three year contract at Hertha. As I understand it he has been offered the contract regardless of which league we are in.  The article can be found here - http://ow.ly/1Wjjf5

Jos staying until at least 2016 is just wonderful - I think he has done such a fantastic job at pulling the team together this year. Just one more point will take Hertha to 76 points - the best total in the 2.Bundesliga ever!

I just so hope it happens - the weather forecast looks good - it'll be party party time at the Olympiastadion!.
Ha Ho He . .

This weekend has all if its 2. Bundesliga matches all on the same day and all at the same time 13:30 CET. What a feast of football!

For Hertha just one point will clinch the title but one more away win would be better! They travel to Köln who managed to hold Hertha to a 1:1 draw when they met in the Olympiastadion in November. Hertha are a lot more confident now than they were then although they are still without Peter Niemeyer.

Last season the two teams met and produced a 3:0 win for Hertha at home and a 1:0 loss in Köln. Those matches however, feel as if they were an eternity away.

Sunday saw if Hertha could come back with all three points. Some if the Hertha UK guys drove to Köln from London on Saturday to see the match on Sunday. It's been a couple of years since I've driven to Köln but its a fair old drive!

HERTHA DID IT - 2. BUNDESLIGA CHAMPIONS 2013 !!

The 2:1 scoreline with an away win grasping all three points for Hertha. Goals from Kobiashvili (via a penalty) and Alfredo Morales in the 55th minute sealed it for Hertha - Horrah!

What a day for Alfredo, his 23rd birthday, Hertha Champions and his first professional goal! A day he'll not forget in a hurry!!

Hertha are now on 75 points, nine ahead of Braunschweig, who crashed and burned today going down 5:1 to St Pauli. This total could be extended to 78 next week against Cottbus and I sincerely hope it will as I'm there to watch it!

Win or loose its been an amazing season for Hertha and for the moment, I'm going to leave it at that!

On Friday Hertha meet Erzgebirge Aue at the Olympiastadion. I'm disappointed that I cannot be there but the Bank holiday weekend causes too many complications.

Four points clear at the top with nine points to play for - Hertha can go a long way to winning the title even if Braunschweig win on Monday. If Braunschweig were to loose, the tile would be won.

Well, it ended as a 3;2 home victory for Hertha with one from Adrian Ramos after just 10 minutes, one in the 35th from Ronny with a wicked deflection. Hubnik joined the party just before half time with a cracking header from Ronny's corner.. Going in at half time at 3:0 up things were looking sweet.

After half time things "wandered off plan". After a few seconds Hertha found themselves "defending" a cross - not too well, and Sylvestr knocked it in from close range without really being challenged. A bit if a shock so soon after half time.

I missed this bit of the match but I gather there was a suspect penalty awarded to Aue which Sylvestr put away in the 66th minute - I'll check out the highlights when I get a chance . .

Anyway, three more points and a step closer to the title . . .

Braunschweig played on Monday and slipped up against Cottbus as it ended 0:0 with a point a piece. Hertha have a six point lead with just six points to play for. If the were to loose both of the remaining matches and Braunschweig were to improve the goal difference by 15 over two games . . . .
It's not s mathematical certainty but its looking very much as if Hertha will be the 2013 2. Bundesliga Champions. Just one point from either of the two remaining games will clinch it. Come on Hertha - let's do this in style!

Thinking about it, what will I write about in a couple of weeks? This season will be over , no more speculation about results, just waiting for the fixture dates to be released. What kind of English Language Hertha Blog will this be then?

I'm sure something will crop up . . .

I could not resist this from a card shop on Berlin, a panoramic photo of the Olympiastadion over the Maifeld from the Glockenturm.

The frame I bought on England as they are do much cheaper than in Germany. Strange that, I dont understand why that would be but hey, whatever!
I like the picture though :)

So congratulations to BVB who make it through to the Champions League Final at Wembley even after a 2:0 defeat in Madrid (4:3).

And then we have Jürgen Klopp - come on, you just can't help liking the guy. Some of the things he says in post match interviews are just priceless!

. . . and well done to Bayern as well - 7:0 on aggregate against Barca - not bad. So we have it, an all German Champions League final in London on the 25th!