Hertha BSC is on the verge of being relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time in eleven years after another faulty performance that was disastrous on the defensive end. Coach Pal Dardai’s team lost a wild and turbulent game at 1. FC Köln 2: 5 (2: 3) and, being bottom of the table, is in great danger. The gap to 15th place is five points two games before the end of the season – Hertha can no longer have a realistic chance of staying up in the league if things go badly this weekend. “Maybe it was my mistake that we dealt with offensive things last week,” said Dardai on DAZN: “Because it was nothing defensive today, we didn’t get anything done. I’ll keep my hands off offensive things now.”
Four weeks after the 5-2 draw at Schalke 04, Berlin again revealed blatant weaknesses in defense and was particularly vulnerable to headers. This was punished by long-time Hertha striker Davie Selke (8th), Timo Hübers (39th, 69th), Ellyes Skhiri (43rd) and Denis Huseinbasic (81st). Cologne could have scored much more often, but guest goalkeeper Oliver Christensen saved several times. Lucas Tousart (18th) and Stevan Jovetic (33rd) were successful for Hertha, turning the game around for a short time.
Nanu, why are both coaches laughing so heartily? Hertha trainer Pal Dardai (right) is hardly upset, not even a 2: 5 in Cologne, which FC trainer Steffen Baumgart is happy about.
(Photo: Revierfoto/Imago)
The relegation would have serious consequences for the financially troubled Berliners, and the economic situation is already threatening. “We don’t have money,” admitted Coach Dardai: “But we have a lot of heart.” His players proved that in Cologne, they didn’t let themselves be unsettled by Selke’s early deficit. Central defender Filip Uremovic was injured in the action, and Selke also had to leave the field a little later, noticeably injured. Hertha quickly equalized through Tousart, who converted the margin after a strong action by Marco Richter.
The Berliners are particularly vulnerable in the air – in Cologne they conceded the 15th goal after a cross.
Cologne then took control, but missed an incredible number of chances – or failed because of Christensen, who saved against Kingsley Schindler (26th), among others. In the middle of this Cologne urgent phase, Jovetic used a counterattack to surprisingly lead the guests, but Hertha did not bring security. Hübers equalized after a free kick with a head, Berlin’s Dodi Lukebakio then applauded scornfully in the direction of fourth official Tobias Reichel – the Berliners had seen no foul when the free kick was created. Skhiri shocked the guests before the break.
A pattern that the Berliners didn’t see through: sharply kicked crosses, which the defenders (here Timo Hübers) extended with the back of their heads. So it wasn’t just the 2:2.
(Photo: Christian Schulze/Nordphoto/Imago)
Anyone who had expected a defiant reaction from Berlin was disappointed in the second round. Instead, Christensen continued to be the focus, the Dane saved his team from further goals with sensational saves against Steffen Tigges (51′), Jan Thielmann (58′) and Dejan Ljubicic (59′). If Hübers’ header hit the crossbar (59th), he would have been powerless. Hertha endured the Cologne assault largely inactively and hardly got into the duels. Nevertheless, Jessic Ngankam had a huge chance to equalize, but failed after a mistake by Jonas Hector at Marvin Schwäbe (63rd). On the other side, Hübers converted artistically, Huseinbasic was later completely free in the penalty area.