The first Magath victory for Hertha!
And the WITHOUT Felix Magath (68) in the stadium!
3-0 redemption for the Berliners after a horror series of eight games without a win and no win in 2022. The new coach is missing five days after taking office because of Corona! Magath follows the game from the hotel — and immediately gets a hotel win against Hoffenheim!
What he sees on TV: The best Berlin performance this year! Clearly: the Magath effect works! Hertha suddenly with him with new momentum! The hope of staying up is alive.
25,000 Hertha fans in the Olympic Stadium sing: “Oh, how beautiful it is!”
MAGATH MAKES HERTHA UP!
Hertha manager Fredi Bobic before the game on Sky: “It’s a shame that Felix Magath isn’t there. But do you want Corona, come to Berlin! The next eight games are finals for us. Felix has observed a lot in the last few days and had a lot of conversations with players.”
According to BILD information, Magath had many one-on-one phone calls before the game in the morning. Then at 1.30 p.m. he spoke to his stars again via video link.
The last words in the dressing room before kick-off come from Magath-Co and representative Mark Fotheringham (38). Before the game on Sky, the Scot reveals what it’s all about: “Men, that’s Hertha Berlin! The boys are motivated. We have to step on the gas! Leave the handbrake off, I always say! The boss (that’s what he calls Magath, ed.) is always there! We are in contact.”
The contact looks like this: Magath is watching the game on TV at the hotel, apparently talking to goalkeeper coach Menger, who has a button in his ear and goes to Fotheringham every ten minutes.
Compared to the 0:2 in Gladbach, Magath brings four new players (goalkeeper Schwolow, Boyata, Richter and Serdar). Darida would have played, but is canceled due to Corona. For him, Stark moves from defense to defensive midfield and shows a very strong game!
5 minutes: Stark’s header from eleven yards — saved! Hertha is off to a good start.
8 minutes: Richter withdraws — over! Before that, an unbelievable back pass from Bruun Larsen in front of his own penalty area into the foot of the Berliner…
18 minutes: Belfodil flicks the ball over the goal from nine yards.
25 minutes: Huge chance for Hoffenheim! Bruun Larsen has a completely free shot in front of goal – but shoots over it! Mega luck for Hertha.
39 minutes: TOR for Hertha! Stark heads into the net from six meters after a Plattenhardt free-kick cross. cheers! Then suddenly whistles! Because the goal is immediately examined by the video referee. Gate – or not at all? Offside? No! No offside! Goal counts! 1:0!
Huge cheers in the stadium! Magath representative Fotheringham shakes the next best Herthaner in front of the bench with joy. The Scot (his “Come on, boys!” can also be heard in the noisy stadium) cheers on the outside line throughout the game, keeps cheering on his team, clenches his fists and doesn’t even sit down…
49 minutes: A space free kick sails just past the Hertha post.
63 minutes: The 2:0! Belfodil hits from five meters. Again the goal falls after a standard situation. Another free-kick cross from Plattenhardt in the penalty area, Kempf puts his head across – and Belfodil executes against his former club.
74 minutes: Now even the 3:0! Again, Plattenhardt prepares the thing with a free kick. This time Boyata heads forward, Tousart doesn’t even hit the ball properly, but the ball still tumbles over the line.
For Hoffenheim, the bankruptcy is a major setback in the fight for the Champions League.