Comfortable win against Club Italia

Berlin - In a friendly matched arranged at short notice, Hertha were victorious in resounding fashion as they defeated Club Italia 9-0 on Friday evening. The sixth tier side from Berlin couldn't live with Pál Dárdai's team who were 5-0 up at half-time.

Even though the visitors tried to set up compactly, it became clear from fairly early on which way the wind was blowing. After a neat pass from Sinan Kurt, Genki Haraguchi opened the scoring with a low shot in the fourth minute. Julius Kade made it 2-0 shortly after (6'). Jener Kade hit the bar just seconds later before Stocker headed in a third for Hertha. A superb solo effort from Haraguchi made it 4-0 ten minutes before half-time and then the Japan international turned provider as he set up Stocker for Hertha's fifth.

Compact and calm in the second half

Having already made four changes after just 25 minutes of the match, Hertha made two more at half-time. It wasn't long before Kurt made it six for Hertha after a nice headed lay-off from Koker Haubitz (52'). A quarter of an hour later Zagrofakis added a seventh for Hertha. Nico Beyer (77') and then Tony Fuchs added more goals late on as the match finished 9-0 to the Blue-Whites.

Tomorrow is Hertha's anniversary match against Liverpool at the Olympiastadion. It will be a day of celebration at the stadium with festivities beginning at 12:30 CEST. The match against the Premier League outfit will kick off at 18:00 CEST.

Hertha: Zwick – Eggerer (70' Tezel), Baak (25' Kraeft), Morack (70' Beyer), Akyol (70' Fuchs) – Maier (25' Klehr), Stocker (46' Haubitz, 70' Kauter) – Dardai (25' Blumberg), Kade (25' Ernesto, 70' Cakmak), Kurt – Haraguchi (46' Zografakis) 

Goals: 1-0 Haraguchi (4'), 2-0 Kade (6'), 3-0 Stocker (11'), 4-0 Haraguchi (36'), 5-0 Stocker (37'), 6-0 Kurt (52'), 7-0 Zografakis (72'), 8-0 Beyer (77'), 9-0 Fuchs (87')

Referee: Max Burda (Berlin)
Attendance: 650