Teams | November 23, 2013 at 03:25 PM
The next challenge
The next challenge
On Saturday (23.11.13), Hertha BSC entertain Bayer Leverkusen in the capital city.
Berlin - On Saturday (23.11.13, 3.30 pm), Hertha BSC entertain current third placed Bayer Leverkusen at the Olympic stadium in Berlin for a Bundesliga matchday 13 clash. Both sides won their last league games before the break for international games and both coaches have few injury worries ahead of kick off. A glance at the record books reveals that the capital city side have not lost any of their last seven matches against Bayer. The game is a special occasion for Hertha' Japanese Hajime Hosogai, who joined the Berliners from Bayer last summer.
At the pre-match press conference Hertha boss Jos Luhukay revealed that Sascha Burchert will be out of action for a week with an ankle injury. The Dutchman also told the gathered media that Nico Schulz has lost the race against time to make the squad. Luhukay said „thank goodness“ his internationals had returned to Berlin unscathed from international duty. Young American Jay Brooks is jet lagged and will not feature on Saturday. Luhukay regards Leverkusen as a „huge challenge“ and a „top team with loads of individual quality. The coach went on to single out Bayer's front line of Sam, Son and Kießling as particulöary dangerous because all are not only capable of scoring, but also setting goals up for others. Last season's Bundesliga top scorer Kießling says Luhukay is an „exceptional striker.“ The Berlin boss rightly pointed out that his side had recently matched Bayern and Schalke in parts of recent games without reward, but this time hopes that his team can take something from Saturday's game.
Luhukay expects attacking encounter
Luhukay knows that Bayer under their coach – former Liverpool legend Sami Hypiä – have a side who can switch from defence to attack in the blink of an eye – someting pointed out by this season's stats, which show that Bayer have already scored five times from counter attacks, - the best record in the top flight. Hertha on the other hand have yet to concede from a counter attack and share top spot in that stat with Borussia Dortmund. Luhukay expects an attacking game during which no quarter will be given.
The Dutchman expects his team as the home side to take the initiative. Sami Allagui, Änis Ben-Hatira and Tunisia failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil, but Luhukay believes in their mental strength: „They will get over it and get support from their team mates“, says the coach. Stefan Kießling reckons his side have a good chance of success in Berlin. He said this week. „If we can play the way we want I am sure that we can win there. Despite our confidence we are aware of the superb role Hertha have played so far this season as a newly-promoted team. We will have to give our all in order to win on Saturday.“
Possible line-ups:
Hertha BSC: Kraft - Pekarik, Langkamp, Lustenberger, van den Bergh - Cigerci, Hosogai - Allagui, Skjelbred, Ben-Hatira - Ramos
Bayer Leverkusen: Leno - Donati, Spahic, Wollscheid, Boenisch - Castro, Rolfes, Bender - Sam, Son - Kießling
At the pre-match press conference Hertha boss Jos Luhukay revealed that Sascha Burchert will be out of action for a week with an ankle injury. The Dutchman also told the gathered media that Nico Schulz has lost the race against time to make the squad. Luhukay said „thank goodness“ his internationals had returned to Berlin unscathed from international duty. Young American Jay Brooks is jet lagged and will not feature on Saturday. Luhukay regards Leverkusen as a „huge challenge“ and a „top team with loads of individual quality. The coach went on to single out Bayer's front line of Sam, Son and Kießling as particulöary dangerous because all are not only capable of scoring, but also setting goals up for others. Last season's Bundesliga top scorer Kießling says Luhukay is an „exceptional striker.“ The Berlin boss rightly pointed out that his side had recently matched Bayern and Schalke in parts of recent games without reward, but this time hopes that his team can take something from Saturday's game.
Luhukay expects attacking encounter
Luhukay knows that Bayer under their coach – former Liverpool legend Sami Hypiä – have a side who can switch from defence to attack in the blink of an eye – someting pointed out by this season's stats, which show that Bayer have already scored five times from counter attacks, - the best record in the top flight. Hertha on the other hand have yet to concede from a counter attack and share top spot in that stat with Borussia Dortmund. Luhukay expects an attacking game during which no quarter will be given.
The Dutchman expects his team as the home side to take the initiative. Sami Allagui, Änis Ben-Hatira and Tunisia failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil, but Luhukay believes in their mental strength: „They will get over it and get support from their team mates“, says the coach. Stefan Kießling reckons his side have a good chance of success in Berlin. He said this week. „If we can play the way we want I am sure that we can win there. Despite our confidence we are aware of the superb role Hertha have played so far this season as a newly-promoted team. We will have to give our all in order to win on Saturday.“
Possible line-ups:
Hertha BSC: Kraft - Pekarik, Langkamp, Lustenberger, van den Bergh - Cigerci, Hosogai - Allagui, Skjelbred, Ben-Hatira - Ramos
Bayer Leverkusen: Leno - Donati, Spahic, Wollscheid, Boenisch - Castro, Rolfes, Bender - Sam, Son - Kießling