Regensburg the visitors on matchday 3
Regensburg the visitors on matchday 3
Hertha BSC entertain newly-promoted SSV Jahn Regensburg at the Olympic stadium in Berlin on matchday 3 on Friday night on Friday night (24.08.12, 18:00 CET). The hosts are desperate to record what would be their first league win of the new season.
Hertha coach Jos Luhukay is without the services of Alfredo Morales for the first ever visit of Regensburg to the Olympic stadium . The 22 year old American is struggling with a painful bruised hip. Although Daniel Beichler has returned from Austria where he had been for family reasons, he is not match fit and will not feature. On the good news side, midfielder Peer Kluge returns to the team after recovering from an ankle problem.
Create chances and make fewer mistakes
The Berliners have made a shaky start to their new campaing. In their previous two league encounters they drew and lost one. They also lost in the opening round of the DFB Cup competition last weekend. Luhukay expects better from his sode on Friday night. The dutchman: "We have to stop making elementary mistakes. The goals we have conceded wer half own goals."
He is hoping that his young strike force will come up trumps. He said this week: "it is impossible to impose our will onto our opponent for 90 minutes in every game. But during the time periods when we do, we must create and take our chances." Captain Peter Niemeyer agrees with his boss. The defender: "It goes without saying that the whole team had hoped for a better start to the new season, but we are still a work in progress: I am convinced that we have the quality to quickly return to winning ways."
Surprise package Regensburg
Jahn Regensburg caused a major shock by winning promotion at the end of last season. Ending the season behind SV Sandhausen and VfR Aalen, the Bavarian side had to play play-off games against Karlsruher SC. Regensburg won promotion by drawing twice (2-2 and 1-1). It was their third ever promotion.
The two best-known faces in their team are keeper Michael Hofmann (39) and the former Germany international Christian Rahn (33). Their keeper is the oldest player in the Bundesliga and division two. The veteran stopper who turns 40 in November, is really looking forward to the trip to Berlin. He said this week: "I am delighted to be able to play at the Olympic stadium again. I feel as if I hasve been kissed by luck."
First ever meeting
Despite both clubs having a long tradition, Friday night's clash is the first between them. Hertha ave only ever faced a Regensburg side once before - in the opening round of the DFB Cup in 1998. That day Hertha took on and beat SG Post/Süd Regensburg 2-0, through goals by Sverrisson and Tretschok.
Jos Luhukay expects a determined opponent: "They operate as a unit and are willing to run for each other. They are dangerous on the break and keen to get a good result here. " Niemeyer had the final word as he told us: "We simply have to take maximum points. Only a win will do!" And so say all of us. Come on Hertha!
Possible line-ups:
Hertha BSC: Sprint - Schulz, Franz, Hubnik, Lustenberger - Kluge, Niemeyer, Ben-Hatira, Rukavytsya - Allagui, Wagner
Jahn Regensburg: Hofmann – Ziereis, Laurito, Nachreiter, Rahn - Kotzke, Neunaber, Müller, Amachaibou, Haag - Sembolo