Teams | December 21, 2013 at 10:07 PM
Final game of 2013
Final game of 2013
Hertha BSC are away to Borussia Dortmund for the final game of 2013 on Saturday.
Berlin - On Saturday (21.12.13, 3.30 pm), Hertha play their final game of 2013, as they take on Champions League runners up Borussia Dortmund at the magnificent Signal Iduna Park stadium on Bundesliga matchday 17. While Hertha beat Braunschweig and Bremen in their last two encounters, Borussia lost to Leverkusen and drew against Hoffenheim. Both teams have defensive selection problems so the game could have plenty of goals, looking at the potent front lines of both teams.
Around 4,400 travelling fans will follow the capital city side to Dortmund. Though it remains to be seen how they make themselves heard in a crowd expected to be around 80,000 strong (!). Tickets are still available for the game so any Hertha fans wishing to see the team on Saturday can pay at the turnstile. After the omission of injured quartet Sebastian Langkamp, Alexander Baumjohann, Änis Ben-Hatira and Sascha Burchert, Berlin boss Jos Luhukay is also without first choice keeper Thomas Kraft, as well as Johannes van den Bergh, John Anthony Brooks and Fabian Holland. Kraft's spot between the Berlin posts will go to either Marius Gersbeck or Philip Sprint. The Hertha coach: "It is the last game of the first half of the season and of course we are looking forward to it. It is special to play in Dortmund, people know the atmosphere and all the emotion there. My team will require a real explosion of strength to persevere there for 90 minutes."
Approach final game with a good feeling
The Hertha coach remains positive ahead of what promises to be a daunting task. Luhukay admitted to having a "good feeling" ahead of the trip before adding: "Last Friday we were able to take our points total to 25, which is a very good tally for us. But we still have a final game to play before the winter break and just maybe we can take something back to Berlin with us from Dortmund which would be nothing short of sensational for us.” Because of their selection woes, Dortmund's "jewel in the crown" remains their impressive strike force. Luhukay knows: "We will have to rediscover the stability and security missing during the first half against Bremen while at the same time trying to get forward too." The Dutchman continued: "One of our best games this season was away to Bayern Munich. Apart from the result, the way we presented ourselves away from home. If we can repeat that kind of performance on Saturday we have a chance to take something home with us from the game."
According to Luhukay teams playing Dortmund need a little luck because Dortmund always create plenty of chances. It must be said though that they have not been all that clinical in front of goal in recent games. The Hertha coach with a broad grin: "I hope that they have such a day on Saturday. The likes of Lewandowski, Reus, Mkhitaryan and the many others facing us are hard to keep quiet ." Luhukay describes Dortmund coach Jürgen Klopp's midfield as a "machine", who average between 12 and 13 kilometres each during a game. Hertha's Brazilian Ronny who has a goal and two assists in the last two games could struggle in such a tempo-ridden game. Luhukay was not prepared to reveal his side as he spoke to the press before the game.
Hertha praise from Dortmund
Dortmund have recently had their hands full in recent weeks with two games per week and their long list of walking wounded. They have though had a good week to prepare for the visit of Hertha. Klopp said at his pre-match press conference: "The team looks to me to be very much up for it and they will have to be. It is always tricky to speculate about freshness, but what I have seen so far gives me hope that we will be ready on Saturday." The Dortmund cult-coach then added: "Hertha have a very good plan, a fine squad which was well constructed and took tremendous momentum with them into the top flight after winning promotion."
"It is not that long ago that Hertha were relegated and there was so much negativity in Berlin you had the feeling that the world was about to end. When you deal with such things as well as Hertha have you have a good chance of coming back much stronger. They not only did so but built a good side at the same time. One mustn't forger the injury problems they have had to endure. They have has a fine first half of the season." Klopp sees Hertha's strengths in their ability to quickly switch from defence to attack and their tactical prowess, which according to him Luhukay's teams have always had. Klopp: "They are a strong side who are uncomfortable opponents to play against. You have to realise that and we do. We have to make sure that we are the uncomfortable side to play against on Saturday. That is our plan and that is what we will be."
Possible line-ups:
Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller - Großkreutz/Piszczek, Sokratis, Friedrich/Sarr, Durm - Sahin, Kehl - Blaszczykowski, Mkhitaryan, Reus - Lewandowski
Hertha BSC: Gersbeck/Sprint - Pekarik, Hosogai, Lustenberger, Schulz - Cigerci, Niemeyer - Ndjeng, Ronny, Skjelbred - Ramos
Around 4,400 travelling fans will follow the capital city side to Dortmund. Though it remains to be seen how they make themselves heard in a crowd expected to be around 80,000 strong (!). Tickets are still available for the game so any Hertha fans wishing to see the team on Saturday can pay at the turnstile. After the omission of injured quartet Sebastian Langkamp, Alexander Baumjohann, Änis Ben-Hatira and Sascha Burchert, Berlin boss Jos Luhukay is also without first choice keeper Thomas Kraft, as well as Johannes van den Bergh, John Anthony Brooks and Fabian Holland. Kraft's spot between the Berlin posts will go to either Marius Gersbeck or Philip Sprint. The Hertha coach: "It is the last game of the first half of the season and of course we are looking forward to it. It is special to play in Dortmund, people know the atmosphere and all the emotion there. My team will require a real explosion of strength to persevere there for 90 minutes."
Approach final game with a good feeling
The Hertha coach remains positive ahead of what promises to be a daunting task. Luhukay admitted to having a "good feeling" ahead of the trip before adding: "Last Friday we were able to take our points total to 25, which is a very good tally for us. But we still have a final game to play before the winter break and just maybe we can take something back to Berlin with us from Dortmund which would be nothing short of sensational for us.” Because of their selection woes, Dortmund's "jewel in the crown" remains their impressive strike force. Luhukay knows: "We will have to rediscover the stability and security missing during the first half against Bremen while at the same time trying to get forward too." The Dutchman continued: "One of our best games this season was away to Bayern Munich. Apart from the result, the way we presented ourselves away from home. If we can repeat that kind of performance on Saturday we have a chance to take something home with us from the game."
According to Luhukay teams playing Dortmund need a little luck because Dortmund always create plenty of chances. It must be said though that they have not been all that clinical in front of goal in recent games. The Hertha coach with a broad grin: "I hope that they have such a day on Saturday. The likes of Lewandowski, Reus, Mkhitaryan and the many others facing us are hard to keep quiet ." Luhukay describes Dortmund coach Jürgen Klopp's midfield as a "machine", who average between 12 and 13 kilometres each during a game. Hertha's Brazilian Ronny who has a goal and two assists in the last two games could struggle in such a tempo-ridden game. Luhukay was not prepared to reveal his side as he spoke to the press before the game.
Hertha praise from Dortmund
Dortmund have recently had their hands full in recent weeks with two games per week and their long list of walking wounded. They have though had a good week to prepare for the visit of Hertha. Klopp said at his pre-match press conference: "The team looks to me to be very much up for it and they will have to be. It is always tricky to speculate about freshness, but what I have seen so far gives me hope that we will be ready on Saturday." The Dortmund cult-coach then added: "Hertha have a very good plan, a fine squad which was well constructed and took tremendous momentum with them into the top flight after winning promotion."
"It is not that long ago that Hertha were relegated and there was so much negativity in Berlin you had the feeling that the world was about to end. When you deal with such things as well as Hertha have you have a good chance of coming back much stronger. They not only did so but built a good side at the same time. One mustn't forger the injury problems they have had to endure. They have has a fine first half of the season." Klopp sees Hertha's strengths in their ability to quickly switch from defence to attack and their tactical prowess, which according to him Luhukay's teams have always had. Klopp: "They are a strong side who are uncomfortable opponents to play against. You have to realise that and we do. We have to make sure that we are the uncomfortable side to play against on Saturday. That is our plan and that is what we will be."
Possible line-ups:
Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller - Großkreutz/Piszczek, Sokratis, Friedrich/Sarr, Durm - Sahin, Kehl - Blaszczykowski, Mkhitaryan, Reus - Lewandowski
Hertha BSC: Gersbeck/Sprint - Pekarik, Hosogai, Lustenberger, Schulz - Cigerci, Niemeyer - Ndjeng, Ronny, Skjelbred - Ramos