Teams | April 8, 2013 at 02:44 AM
Top two clash in Berlin
Top two clash in Berlin
First placed Hertha entertain second placed Eintracht Braunschweig on Monday night.
Berlin - On Monday (08.04.13, 20.15 CET) the top two teams of Bundesliga 2 go head to head, as Hertha BSC entertain Eintracht Braunschweig in a matchday 28 summit at the Olympic stadium in Berlin. The game is viewed by both camps as pivotal. For Hertha it is about extending their lead at the top, or relinquishing first place to Braunschweig.
Last Saturday Hertha cruised to a 2-0 home win over lowly VfL Bochum. That win saw the capital city side regain top spot from Eintracht Braunschweig, who had beaten Dynamo Dresden 2-1 almost 48 hours previously. After success against teams from the nether regions of the table, the top two sides lock horns in an eagerly-awaited clash in front of over 50,000 at the tradition-steeped Olympic stadium in the nation's capital. Statistically speaking, the best away team entertain the best home side. What a cracker it promises to be.
Something has to give
The best two strikers of Bundesliga 2 face each other across the halfway line on Monday night. Hertha's top scorer Ronny has 14 goals and a dozen assists to his name so far making him top of the so-called scorer list. The Brazilian isn't interested in such statistics though. He said this week: "What is most important is the success of the team." Braunschweig's Congolese goal getter Domi Kumbela has netted an impressive 17 times this season. Against Hertha's cross-town rivals union Berlin he scored a hat trick. Kumbela has scored in all three of his side's last three matches and says: "We travel to Berlin in confident mood with our heads held high. The whole of Germany will be watching." At only 173 cm tall, Kumbela has amazingly scored six of his goals with his head. Only Hertha's Adrian Ramos and Energie Cottbus striker Boubacar Sanogo (both 8 goals) have headed more goals.
On paper things look promising for Hertha, who have yet to lose at the Olympic stadium this season. Thus far the Berliners have collected 31 points - second only behind Braunschweig, who have two points more but have played a home game more. Should Hertha win on Monday night, it would make them the best home side in the division. Hertha are unbeaten in their Monday night matches so far (five victories, one draw). Around 8,000 Braunschweig fans will attend the game.
Bring it on!
Before the Bochum victory Peter Niemeyer, Peter Pekarik, Sandro Wagner and Ronny all had four bookings, so a further one would have meant they miss the visit of Braunschweig. Luckily none of them got booked. Maik Franz missed the Bochum game with the flu and is not in the squad for Monday's game. Marcel Ndjeng and Felix Bastians are both injured, while Fabian Holland and Roman Hubnik have not made the squad. Braunschweig's Dennis Kruppke (scored in the first game between the two sides earlier in the season) misses out with a knee injury. Berlin-born Ken Reichel who set up Kruppke's goal is also ruled out. Adrian Ramos scored a late but well deserved equaliser for Hertha in Braunschweig that day.
Possible line-ups:
Hertha BSC: Kraft – Pekarik, Lustenberger, Brooks, Kobiashvili – Niemeyer, Kluge – Allagui, Ronny, Schulz – Ramos
Eintracht Braunschweig: Davari – Correia, Bicakcic, Dogan, Bohl – Theuerkauf – Elabdellaoui, Vrancic, Boland, Korte – Kumbela
Last Saturday Hertha cruised to a 2-0 home win over lowly VfL Bochum. That win saw the capital city side regain top spot from Eintracht Braunschweig, who had beaten Dynamo Dresden 2-1 almost 48 hours previously. After success against teams from the nether regions of the table, the top two sides lock horns in an eagerly-awaited clash in front of over 50,000 at the tradition-steeped Olympic stadium in the nation's capital. Statistically speaking, the best away team entertain the best home side. What a cracker it promises to be.
Something has to give
The best two strikers of Bundesliga 2 face each other across the halfway line on Monday night. Hertha's top scorer Ronny has 14 goals and a dozen assists to his name so far making him top of the so-called scorer list. The Brazilian isn't interested in such statistics though. He said this week: "What is most important is the success of the team." Braunschweig's Congolese goal getter Domi Kumbela has netted an impressive 17 times this season. Against Hertha's cross-town rivals union Berlin he scored a hat trick. Kumbela has scored in all three of his side's last three matches and says: "We travel to Berlin in confident mood with our heads held high. The whole of Germany will be watching." At only 173 cm tall, Kumbela has amazingly scored six of his goals with his head. Only Hertha's Adrian Ramos and Energie Cottbus striker Boubacar Sanogo (both 8 goals) have headed more goals.
On paper things look promising for Hertha, who have yet to lose at the Olympic stadium this season. Thus far the Berliners have collected 31 points - second only behind Braunschweig, who have two points more but have played a home game more. Should Hertha win on Monday night, it would make them the best home side in the division. Hertha are unbeaten in their Monday night matches so far (five victories, one draw). Around 8,000 Braunschweig fans will attend the game.
Bring it on!
Before the Bochum victory Peter Niemeyer, Peter Pekarik, Sandro Wagner and Ronny all had four bookings, so a further one would have meant they miss the visit of Braunschweig. Luckily none of them got booked. Maik Franz missed the Bochum game with the flu and is not in the squad for Monday's game. Marcel Ndjeng and Felix Bastians are both injured, while Fabian Holland and Roman Hubnik have not made the squad. Braunschweig's Dennis Kruppke (scored in the first game between the two sides earlier in the season) misses out with a knee injury. Berlin-born Ken Reichel who set up Kruppke's goal is also ruled out. Adrian Ramos scored a late but well deserved equaliser for Hertha in Braunschweig that day.
Possible line-ups:
Hertha BSC: Kraft – Pekarik, Lustenberger, Brooks, Kobiashvili – Niemeyer, Kluge – Allagui, Ronny, Schulz – Ramos
Eintracht Braunschweig: Davari – Correia, Bicakcic, Dogan, Bohl – Theuerkauf – Elabdellaoui, Vrancic, Boland, Korte – Kumbela