Out of the crisis? Hertha relies on returnees
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By Johannes Kohlstedt
Berlin – The prerequisites for reparation could hardly have been more uncomfortable. Hertha BSC is the league’s shooting gallery! No team has conceded more goals than the Berlin team (18). With a 0: 6 in the bones, the old lady is expecting SC Freiburg on Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky).
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Pal Dardai (45) can probably play with a five-man chain again against Freiburg. © Robert Michael / dpa-Zentralbild / dpa
From the expectations and from the paper, the thing is clear: For Hertha, only one victory counts.
A look at the table shows, however, that the favorite role does not necessarily lie with the home team. The Breisgauer started the season well, are fifth with twelve points and are the only unbeaten club alongside record champions Bayern Munich. The capital club, on the other hand, lost four out of six games.
“Freiburg has long ceased to be the small Gallic village somewhere in Breisgau. They make the most of their opportunities,” says manager Fredi Bobic (49), who knows the qualities.
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Attention, Hertha! This statistic makes the fans tremble
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“I’m not at all surprised that they haven’t lost a game yet. They deserve it through the mentality they bring to the field. When we talk about Freiburg, we’re talking about a great constant.”
Such a gig like the Leipzig debacle the manager doesn’t want to see anymore. “I expect that she can counter it and not come back from a setback. Body language is crucial.”
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Dedryck Boyata probably back in the starting line-up, a joker role for Krzysztof Piatek
Pal Dardai can again rely on Stevan Jovetic (31 / l.), Dedryck Boyata (30 / M) and Krzysztof Piatek (r.). © Soeren Stache / dpa-Zentralbild POOL / dpa, Sebastian Räppold / Matthias Koch / dpa
The blue-whites have already had experience with clapping. At the end of August, Hertha went down 5-0 in Munich. Two victories followed. “We wouldn’t mind if it happened again,” said Bobic.
It looked good in training. Pal Dardai (45) also knows that on the pitch it is crucial: “It is important that it also works in the game.”
The coach probably doesn’t have to change his system after all. Both defender Dedryck Boyata (30) and right-back Deyovaisio Zeefuik (23) were able to resume team training during the week. So, despite the bottleneck in the defense of a chain of three or five, nothing stands in the way.
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Up front, the Hungarian has two more important options thanks to the returnees Stevan Jovetic (31) and Krzysztof Piatek (26) – albeit not from the start. While Jovetic is ready for at least one half, Piatek has “20 to 30 minutes”.
The Pole was eagerly awaited. He knows where the box is and immediately looks for closure. As a joker alone, Hertha’s Pistolero scored six goals in his one and a half years in Berlin. Now the 26-year-old could make the difference again. Dardai: “Of course it would be nice if he came in and then scored the winning goal.”
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Table 1. Bundesliga
The Bundesliga table has the following meaning: Whoever is in first place at the end of the season is the German champion. Those who are in ranks 17 and 18 are relegated to the 2nd Bundesliga. The third from last place (position 16) may play in the so-called relegation for relegation. The opponent is the third placed in the 2nd Bundesliga.
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Cover photo: Soeren Stache / dpa-Zentralbild POOL / dpa, Sebastian Räppold / Matthias Koch / dpa
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