Teams | March 16, 2013 at 08:01 PM
TSV 1860 Munich next for Hertha
TSV 1860 Munich next for Hertha
On Saturday (16.03.13) first placed Hertha will fight "Lions" at the magnificent Allianz-Arena in Munich.
Berlin - Hertha plan to show their teeth on Saturday (16.03.13, 13.00 CET), as they travel south to take on 1860 Munich (nickname "The Lions"), in an eagerly-awaited Bundesliga matchday 26 clash at the magnificent Allianz Arena - home of mighty Bayern. After suffering defeat in Dresden, the capital city side bounced back by beating MSV Duisburg at home last time out. After the game Duisburg coach Kosta Runjaic had some words of praise for the Berliners as he described them as: "The Bayern Munich of division two." Hertha want to live up to that billing by taking home three points with them on Saturday. It seems quite fitting then that Hertha are residing at the Hotel 'Dolce' in Munich - the same hotel Bayern use before home games: "We showed a good reaction after the end of our long winning run", said Hertha boss Jos Luhukay this week before adding: "We want to continue that attacking approach against 1860 Munich. We want to control the game and take our chances when they occur."
The Dutchman has once again nothing like a fully fit squad to pick his starting eleven from. Aside from Marcel Ndjeng (hamstring) and Peer Kluge (bruised calf), influential captain Peter Niemeyer and young fellow defender John Anthony Brooks have both been ruled out with a bout of flu: Luhukay explained: "We are not moaning because we still have a lot of quality in our squad. These omissions will not break our necks. We will compensate for them." Luhukay is taking his time in picking his side: "The right balance is crucial. I have to prepare the players properly so that the different departments within the team harmonise properly." Gritty defender Maik Franz could start at the Allianz Arena after playing for 45 minutes against Duisburg. He said this week: "Munich have a healthy mixture of youth and experience in their squad. It will be a tough game for us." Christopher Janker has been called up to the squad for the first time this season. Those who have not made the trip include: Roman Hubnik, Felix Bastians, Hany Mukhtar, Shervin Radjabali-Fardi and Philip Sprint.
"Lions" on the prowl
Luhukay knows that 1860 will be "100% motivated" against the league leaders.: "It will be a tough sporting challenge for us", knows the Hertha boss. Sami Allagui, who bagged a brace of goals against Duisburg can't wait for the trip. He said this week: "It will be a tough game because 1860 are still hoping to finish third. We are relishing playing at a fine stadium. We want to perform away from home the way we did in our last home game." Which of course means plenty of pressure going forward while preventing 1860 from creating too many scoring opportunities.
1860 are only four points adrift of third placed Kaiserslautern, who have occupied that spot for some time. The Lions want to pounce, as their former Hertha defender Malik Fathi pointed out as he said: "Of course we want promotion. But we must only focus on our next game. We want success in our game against Hertha", who he described as the "Strongest team in the league". Fathi was at Hertha between 2001 and 2008. During that time he was capped twice by Germany.
Luhukay plans to force victory
Hertha fans will not enjoy a look at the history books regarding games between Hertha and 1860. Hertha's record against them could hardly be any bleaker, with six defeats from seven matches. Hertha lost all three second division games against them 0-1. Hertha did beat them 3-0 however at the Olympic stadium earlier in the season, handing 1860 their first defeat of the season. Young Hertha striker Sandro Wagner hails from Munich and is an 1860 fan. So Saturday’s game is a very special one for him. He told us this week: "1860 will play an attacking game, which will give us more room to hit them on the break, which is one of our major strengths. We will beat them."
Luhukay is also in a winning mood. He told the media at the pre-match press conference: "A point is not enough for us. We want to force a win." The coach expects plenty of resistance on Saturday. He added: "As the leaders everyone wants to trip you up." The Allianz Arena will be a real Lions den on Saturday. Luhukay hopes to become a Lion tamer and keep his team firmly in top spot.
Possible line-ups:
1860 München: Király – Volz, Vallori, Bülow, Fathi– D. Stahl, Bierofka – Stoppelkamp, Tomasov – Lauth, Friend
Hertha BSC: Kraft – Pekarik, Lustenberger, Franz, Holland – Kobiashvili, Morales – Allagui, Ronny, Schulz – Ramos
The Dutchman has once again nothing like a fully fit squad to pick his starting eleven from. Aside from Marcel Ndjeng (hamstring) and Peer Kluge (bruised calf), influential captain Peter Niemeyer and young fellow defender John Anthony Brooks have both been ruled out with a bout of flu: Luhukay explained: "We are not moaning because we still have a lot of quality in our squad. These omissions will not break our necks. We will compensate for them." Luhukay is taking his time in picking his side: "The right balance is crucial. I have to prepare the players properly so that the different departments within the team harmonise properly." Gritty defender Maik Franz could start at the Allianz Arena after playing for 45 minutes against Duisburg. He said this week: "Munich have a healthy mixture of youth and experience in their squad. It will be a tough game for us." Christopher Janker has been called up to the squad for the first time this season. Those who have not made the trip include: Roman Hubnik, Felix Bastians, Hany Mukhtar, Shervin Radjabali-Fardi and Philip Sprint.
"Lions" on the prowl
Luhukay knows that 1860 will be "100% motivated" against the league leaders.: "It will be a tough sporting challenge for us", knows the Hertha boss. Sami Allagui, who bagged a brace of goals against Duisburg can't wait for the trip. He said this week: "It will be a tough game because 1860 are still hoping to finish third. We are relishing playing at a fine stadium. We want to perform away from home the way we did in our last home game." Which of course means plenty of pressure going forward while preventing 1860 from creating too many scoring opportunities.
1860 are only four points adrift of third placed Kaiserslautern, who have occupied that spot for some time. The Lions want to pounce, as their former Hertha defender Malik Fathi pointed out as he said: "Of course we want promotion. But we must only focus on our next game. We want success in our game against Hertha", who he described as the "Strongest team in the league". Fathi was at Hertha between 2001 and 2008. During that time he was capped twice by Germany.
Luhukay plans to force victory
Hertha fans will not enjoy a look at the history books regarding games between Hertha and 1860. Hertha's record against them could hardly be any bleaker, with six defeats from seven matches. Hertha lost all three second division games against them 0-1. Hertha did beat them 3-0 however at the Olympic stadium earlier in the season, handing 1860 their first defeat of the season. Young Hertha striker Sandro Wagner hails from Munich and is an 1860 fan. So Saturday’s game is a very special one for him. He told us this week: "1860 will play an attacking game, which will give us more room to hit them on the break, which is one of our major strengths. We will beat them."
Luhukay is also in a winning mood. He told the media at the pre-match press conference: "A point is not enough for us. We want to force a win." The coach expects plenty of resistance on Saturday. He added: "As the leaders everyone wants to trip you up." The Allianz Arena will be a real Lions den on Saturday. Luhukay hopes to become a Lion tamer and keep his team firmly in top spot.
Possible line-ups:
1860 München: Király – Volz, Vallori, Bülow, Fathi– D. Stahl, Bierofka – Stoppelkamp, Tomasov – Lauth, Friend
Hertha BSC: Kraft – Pekarik, Lustenberger, Franz, Holland – Kobiashvili, Morales – Allagui, Ronny, Schulz – Ramos