Teams | April 6, 2014 at 01:36 PM
Hoffenheim in Berlin on matchday 29
Hoffenheim in Berlin on matchday 29
On Sunday afternoon (06.04.14) Hertha BSC entertain 1899 Hoffenheim.
Berlin - Hertha BSC and 1899 Hoffenheim swapped places in the Bundesliga table last Saturday. Sunday's visitors to the Olympic stadium in Berlin moved into 9th place, while Hertha slipped to tenth - the first time Hertha have not been in the top half of the table since last September. On Sunday (06.04.13, 5.30 pm) the capital city side have a chance to win back 9th place. It won't be easy, as Hoffenheim's impressive 3-3 draw away to all-conquering Bayern Munich last time out. Berlin boss Jos Luhukay and his men are desperate to end the season on a positive note.
The three games of last week really shook up Hertha's squad. Adrian ramos was the only man to start all three matches. Ronny, Sandro Wagner and Peter Niemeyer all featured in them. On the good news side Alexander Baumjohann made his comeback in Gelsenkirchen after an age out through injury. Tolga Cigerci also made the team again but picked up a fifth booking against Schalke and is suspended for the visit of Hoffenheim. Ronny and Adrian Ramos missed part of first team training this week after picking up slight knocks. Boith are expected to feature on Sunday though. Sebastian Langkamp dislocated his shoulder during trining but the injury is not thought to be serious. Hertha are still without influential captain Fabian Lustenberger who is still short of match practise after a long injury lay off. Veteran Georgian Levan Kobiashvili has not made the squad for Sunday's game.
"We owe the club and fans"
All the Swiss-born midfielder can do is give his team mates some moral support after a disappointing "English" week. Lustenberger said this week: " We want to end the season on a positive note. When you end the first half of the season with 28 points, to only have 36 now is disappointing and we want to add to that tally. Us players owe the club and our fans a good performance." The curly midfielder has a point too. Hertha still await their first home victory since the winter break. Lustenberger added: "Hoffenheim have more quality than we do. We must be solid at the back and take our chances up front."
Hoffenheim are doing well at the moment. They beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 away from home and then Hannover 3-1. Last time out they drew 3-3 at treble-winners Bayern Munich. Although they boast the second best attacking record in Germany's top flight, Hoffenheim also have the worst defensive record. They are vulnerable in dead ball situations and counter attacks. The young inexperienced Hoffenheim side are known for making basic mistakes but their coach Markus Gisdol says: "Our players have developed a strong desire to chase and press opponents. We don't want to discourage that. They have to find out where their limitations lie. That in turn leads to improved performances and stability."
Do not let their front line play
Hoffenheim come to Berlin under strength. Central defender David Abraham and Angreifer Sven Schipplock have missed the trip to the capital. 12-time goal scorer Anthony Modeste is doubtful as is keeper Jens Grahl. Hoffenheim fans were boosted by the news of the contract extension of top scorer Roberto Firmino, who recently agreed terms on a deal to keep him at the club until June 30th 2017. The Brazilian has cored 14 and set up a further 11 goals so far this season: "Their main strength is up front", reckons Hertha's Marcel Ndjeng. He added: "If we can play in a disciplined and patient manner we can stop them from playing their game."
Luhukay has warned his players about Hoffenheim, but as usual he prefers to focus on his own team. The Dutchman wants his team to return to what made them so strong during the opening half of the season and show more fight, passion and effort. Hertha have collected many points this season through such things: "Hertha have made seven changes to their team in only two matches which makes them unpredictable", said Hoffenheim coach Gisdol before the game. He knows: "They have a good team and are very dangerous." His Berlin counterpart had the last word as he said: "We have no fear! You always have to battle your way into a game. We have the skill and mental strength to beat Hoffenheim, and that is exactly what we plan to do."
Possible line-ups:
Hertha BSC: Kraft - Pekarik, Kobiashvili, Langkamp, van den Bergh - Hosogai, Skjelbred - Allagui, Ronny, Ben-Hatira - Ramos
TSG Hoffenheim: Grahl - Johnson, Strobl, Vestergaard, Beck - Rudy, Polanski - Volland, Roberto Firmino, Salihovic - Modeste
The three games of last week really shook up Hertha's squad. Adrian ramos was the only man to start all three matches. Ronny, Sandro Wagner and Peter Niemeyer all featured in them. On the good news side Alexander Baumjohann made his comeback in Gelsenkirchen after an age out through injury. Tolga Cigerci also made the team again but picked up a fifth booking against Schalke and is suspended for the visit of Hoffenheim. Ronny and Adrian Ramos missed part of first team training this week after picking up slight knocks. Boith are expected to feature on Sunday though. Sebastian Langkamp dislocated his shoulder during trining but the injury is not thought to be serious. Hertha are still without influential captain Fabian Lustenberger who is still short of match practise after a long injury lay off. Veteran Georgian Levan Kobiashvili has not made the squad for Sunday's game.
"We owe the club and fans"
All the Swiss-born midfielder can do is give his team mates some moral support after a disappointing "English" week. Lustenberger said this week: " We want to end the season on a positive note. When you end the first half of the season with 28 points, to only have 36 now is disappointing and we want to add to that tally. Us players owe the club and our fans a good performance." The curly midfielder has a point too. Hertha still await their first home victory since the winter break. Lustenberger added: "Hoffenheim have more quality than we do. We must be solid at the back and take our chances up front."
Hoffenheim are doing well at the moment. They beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 away from home and then Hannover 3-1. Last time out they drew 3-3 at treble-winners Bayern Munich. Although they boast the second best attacking record in Germany's top flight, Hoffenheim also have the worst defensive record. They are vulnerable in dead ball situations and counter attacks. The young inexperienced Hoffenheim side are known for making basic mistakes but their coach Markus Gisdol says: "Our players have developed a strong desire to chase and press opponents. We don't want to discourage that. They have to find out where their limitations lie. That in turn leads to improved performances and stability."
Do not let their front line play
Hoffenheim come to Berlin under strength. Central defender David Abraham and Angreifer Sven Schipplock have missed the trip to the capital. 12-time goal scorer Anthony Modeste is doubtful as is keeper Jens Grahl. Hoffenheim fans were boosted by the news of the contract extension of top scorer Roberto Firmino, who recently agreed terms on a deal to keep him at the club until June 30th 2017. The Brazilian has cored 14 and set up a further 11 goals so far this season: "Their main strength is up front", reckons Hertha's Marcel Ndjeng. He added: "If we can play in a disciplined and patient manner we can stop them from playing their game."
Luhukay has warned his players about Hoffenheim, but as usual he prefers to focus on his own team. The Dutchman wants his team to return to what made them so strong during the opening half of the season and show more fight, passion and effort. Hertha have collected many points this season through such things: "Hertha have made seven changes to their team in only two matches which makes them unpredictable", said Hoffenheim coach Gisdol before the game. He knows: "They have a good team and are very dangerous." His Berlin counterpart had the last word as he said: "We have no fear! You always have to battle your way into a game. We have the skill and mental strength to beat Hoffenheim, and that is exactly what we plan to do."
Possible line-ups:
Hertha BSC: Kraft - Pekarik, Kobiashvili, Langkamp, van den Bergh - Hosogai, Skjelbred - Allagui, Ronny, Ben-Hatira - Ramos
TSG Hoffenheim: Grahl - Johnson, Strobl, Vestergaard, Beck - Rudy, Polanski - Volland, Roberto Firmino, Salihovic - Modeste