Match day 23 finds the "Red Devils" of Kaiserslautern coming to the Olympiastadion to face Hertha. Kaiserslautern could only manage a 0:0 draw against the "Blue Zebras" of MSV Duisburg on matchday 22 and so fell back to ten points behind Hertha in the table in the playoff spot. Perhaps critically, they had Idrissou sent off after the 65 minute so he will play no part in the occasion in Berlin.
There are worries about the attendance in the stadium for this home match with only 20,000 tickets having been sold for the game just after the Berlin derby. By the night before the match, BZ reported ticket sales of 34.011. On the night the big screens anounced 37, 347 tickets were sold for the match.
Several factors may be in play with the early worries including: It's Monday night so not easy to get to, its cold, its soon after the derby and people may have had to choose between the two, its on "free" TV and, did I mention, it's cold! Some people in the bar I was in a few hours before the match were settling in for the night in front of the TV with Hertha flags to wave saying about it being cold. Well I went and it wasn't too bad really.
There are worries about the attendance in the stadium for this home match with only 20,000 tickets having been sold for the game just after the Berlin derby. By the night before the match, BZ reported ticket sales of 34.011. On the night the big screens anounced 37, 347 tickets were sold for the match.
Several factors may be in play with the early worries including: It's Monday night so not easy to get to, its cold, its soon after the derby and people may have had to choose between the two, its on "free" TV and, did I mention, it's cold! Some people in the bar I was in a few hours before the match were settling in for the night in front of the TV with Hertha flags to wave saying about it being cold. Well I went and it wasn't too bad really.
I believe I am correct in saying that Hertha offered a range of good tickets on the Tribüne lower tier for just €11. That's less than £10!!! That is just such amazing value - what can I say? You would almost pay that for a burger at The Bridge.
We went into this match with the 10 point lead on Kaiserslautern in third spot with just twelve games remaining in the Rückrunde. This means we needed 27 points from the remaining games to secure promotion - assuming Kaiserslautern win all of their games. including against us, and that is a big assumption. As it turned out - a very big assumption!
At the moment the next closest rival is Köln who are still 13 points behind us even after beating Union 2:0 on Saturday (Spieltag 23). The surprise result on Sunday where Braunschweig lost at home to 1860 München. Ex Hertha player Rob Friend gave us a boost by scoring the first off the two goals for 1860 with the second coming with just five minutes of the match remaining from Benjamin Lauth. The final result of 1:2 gives Hertha another opportunity to go top - even a point clear on Monday!
At the moment the next closest rival is Köln who are still 13 points behind us even after beating Union 2:0 on Saturday (Spieltag 23). The surprise result on Sunday where Braunschweig lost at home to 1860 München. Ex Hertha player Rob Friend gave us a boost by scoring the first off the two goals for 1860 with the second coming with just five minutes of the match remaining from Benjamin Lauth. The final result of 1:2 gives Hertha another opportunity to go top - even a point clear on Monday!
The squad announced by Hertha via Twitter:
Kraft Burchert Ndjeng Niemeyer Ramos Brooks Schulz Kluge Morales Wagner Pekarik Lusti Knoll Ronny Kobi Holland Lasogga Franz
Kraft Burchert Ndjeng Niemeyer Ramos Brooks Schulz Kluge Morales Wagner Pekarik Lusti Knoll Ronny Kobi Holland Lasogga Franz
| I arrived a little early at the Olympiastadion as I wanted a good wander around before the match, check out the fanshop etc - the normal drill! The match got off to a brisk start and within just few minutes Hertha were awarded a penalty and the Red Devil keeper picked up a yellow card. Ronny stepped up and was not at his best and Sippel saved it with ease. |  |
The next major event was a loose challenge by Baumjohann in the 33rd minute who was handed a red card for his trouble. I didn't see the foul well from the stand to be honest but the game was an uphill struggle for a spell from this point. Hertha lost many chances to offsides with long balls coming over the top to player hopelessly stranded. We had a total of 10 offsides during the game - clearly timing is everything.
| | Something that really doesn't really come across on the TV is the support offered by the home crowd. Just the volume, the sound, the chanting, singing, and the roar when there's a goal. Much is said about goal music in German football. Well, if its there - I don;'t hear it when Hertha score! |
Although both teams went in at half time at 0:0 the deadlock was broken by Peer Kluge in the 68th minute. Kaiserslautern never really looked a threat after the sending off, We had a total of ten shots at goal to their two and our goal all but wrapped it up.
Spitzenreiter, Spitzenreiter, Hey Hey! Top of the table with 11 games to play - 13 points clear of the playoff spot with 33 points left up for grabs so just 21 points needed, maybe less!
Spitzenreiter, Spitzenreiter, Hey Hey! Top of the table with 11 games to play - 13 points clear of the playoff spot with 33 points left up for grabs so just 21 points needed, maybe less!
Even I can start to have grounds for very cautious optimism! But, never take anything for granted . . . it could all still go very wrong . .
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