Teams | November 29, 2014 at 08:27 PM
Narrow defeat
Narrow defeat
Hertha BSC lost 0-1 despite a battling second half performance.
Berlin - Hertha hosted star-studded runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich in front of a 76,197 crowd at the Olympic stadium in Berlin on matchday 13 on Saturday afternoon (29.11.14). Despite a battling performance the capital city side 0-1. Home coach Jos Luhukay stuck with the same side which recorded his side’s first away win of the season away to Köln last time out. Super star coach Pep Guardiola made three changes to the Bayern team which lost at Manchester City in the Champions League in midweek, with Dante, Götze and Müller replacing Benatia, Höjbjerg and Rode.
As expected the visitors made a bright start, creating the first chance of the game after two minutes, as Polish forward Lewandowski blazed the ball over the bar following good approach work involving Müller. Hertha won the ball high up the pitch and tried their luck with long balls to their front men. Julian Schieber looked a little unlucky as he was ruled offside after making a promising break down the left wing (7.). Bayern had more of the ball and on 19 minutes world Cup winner Müller fired a shot straight at home keeper Kraft. Ribery followed suit soon afterwards. Stocker found himself advancing alone on Germany keeper Neuer, only to be ruled offside again (21.).
Hertha braver after the interval
It took a shot from distance to break the deadlock, as Robben curled a fine effort from 20 metres out past the despairing dive of Kraft and into the back of the net 27.). Hertha battled on and did well at the back on the whole. Hertha didn’t really happen up front and Bayern only occasionally threatened the home goal. Bernat from an acute angle (34.) and Lewandowski on the turn (38.) both fired wide of target. After winning the ball the home side lacked accuracy in their passing which has plagued them all season. Schieber won a free kick which was taken by Ndjeng but failed to bother Neuer (41.). Bayern deservedly led 1-0 at the break.
Both teams emerged for the second half unchanged, and Hertha created the opening chance, as Schieber broke free on the edge of the Bavarian area from where he sent a shot wide of goal (48.). Hertha had more purpose and found a foothold in the game after the break. Stocker went on a run at blistering pace down the left, but his cross was cleared away for a corner. Hosogai had the ball in the back of the net but was rightly ruled offside (61.). Luhukay then brought on strike duo Ronny and Kalou. The former beat Dante for pace but Kalou narrowly missed his pass inside (63.).
Brave attacking substitutions
Ronny teasted Neuer with an awkward free kick from over 30 metres out. The Germany stopper needed two attempts to gather the ball (71.). Lewandowski missed Bayern’s first chance of the half moments later, toe-poking the ball well past the far post while handily placed (72.). Jos Luhukay then replaced Stocker with Haraguchi. Lewandowski had a gilt-edged chance to put the game to bed but met his master in Kraft, who denied the former Dortmund goal getter with a stunning save (82.). At the other end Hertha’s Brooks should have made more of a rare chance as he latched onto a long ball from Ronny before blasting it over the bar (86.). Kraft was in action again in the dying minutes saving superbly to thwart Lewandowski (88.).
The game ended in a 1-0 win for Bayern who are ten points clear at the top of the table. Hertha’s next season highlight is next Saturday, when they travel to take on former Berlin boss Lucien Favre and his high-flying Borussia Mönchengladbach side.
(rd,war/City-Press)
As expected the visitors made a bright start, creating the first chance of the game after two minutes, as Polish forward Lewandowski blazed the ball over the bar following good approach work involving Müller. Hertha won the ball high up the pitch and tried their luck with long balls to their front men. Julian Schieber looked a little unlucky as he was ruled offside after making a promising break down the left wing (7.). Bayern had more of the ball and on 19 minutes world Cup winner Müller fired a shot straight at home keeper Kraft. Ribery followed suit soon afterwards. Stocker found himself advancing alone on Germany keeper Neuer, only to be ruled offside again (21.).
Hertha braver after the interval
It took a shot from distance to break the deadlock, as Robben curled a fine effort from 20 metres out past the despairing dive of Kraft and into the back of the net 27.). Hertha battled on and did well at the back on the whole. Hertha didn’t really happen up front and Bayern only occasionally threatened the home goal. Bernat from an acute angle (34.) and Lewandowski on the turn (38.) both fired wide of target. After winning the ball the home side lacked accuracy in their passing which has plagued them all season. Schieber won a free kick which was taken by Ndjeng but failed to bother Neuer (41.). Bayern deservedly led 1-0 at the break.
Both teams emerged for the second half unchanged, and Hertha created the opening chance, as Schieber broke free on the edge of the Bavarian area from where he sent a shot wide of goal (48.). Hertha had more purpose and found a foothold in the game after the break. Stocker went on a run at blistering pace down the left, but his cross was cleared away for a corner. Hosogai had the ball in the back of the net but was rightly ruled offside (61.). Luhukay then brought on strike duo Ronny and Kalou. The former beat Dante for pace but Kalou narrowly missed his pass inside (63.).
Brave attacking substitutions
Ronny teasted Neuer with an awkward free kick from over 30 metres out. The Germany stopper needed two attempts to gather the ball (71.). Lewandowski missed Bayern’s first chance of the half moments later, toe-poking the ball well past the far post while handily placed (72.). Jos Luhukay then replaced Stocker with Haraguchi. Lewandowski had a gilt-edged chance to put the game to bed but met his master in Kraft, who denied the former Dortmund goal getter with a stunning save (82.). At the other end Hertha’s Brooks should have made more of a rare chance as he latched onto a long ball from Ronny before blasting it over the bar (86.). Kraft was in action again in the dying minutes saving superbly to thwart Lewandowski (88.).
The game ended in a 1-0 win for Bayern who are ten points clear at the top of the table. Hertha’s next season highlight is next Saturday, when they travel to take on former Berlin boss Lucien Favre and his high-flying Borussia Mönchengladbach side.
(rd,war/City-Press)