Hertha defeated by Schalke in Berlin

Hertha suffered their first home defeat of the season against Schalke on Saturday afternoon, going down 2-0 in the Olympiastadion.

Berlin – A game of few talking points and chances on the pitch ended with Hertha taking no points from a home for the first time in 2017/18, and saw the Blue and Whites shut out in Berlin for the first time since December last season. Leon Goretzka’s second half penalty was added to by Guido Burgstaller late on as Hertha played 45 minutes with ten men after Genki Haraguchi’s dismissal.

Berlin – A game of few talking points and chances on the pitch ended with Hertha taking no points from a home for the first time in 2017/18, and saw the Blue and Whites shut out in Berlin for the first time since December last season. Leon Goretzka’s second half penalty was added to by Guido Burgstaller late on as Hertha played 45 minutes with ten men after Genki Haraguchi’s dismissal.

Pal Dardai made just one change from two weeks ago against Bayern, with Peter Pekarik replacing Mathew Leckie on the right. This meant Mitchell Weiser returned to the left.

A packed Olympiastadion saw a game bereft of chances for the most part – indeed it would take until the 50th minute for the first shot on goal to be registered. Mitchell Weiser looked dangerous when he did get hold of the ball, and he was unlucky not to set up Salomon Kalou early on. The same combination almost bore fruit halfway through the half, but again lacked a finishing touch. The game turned before half time, as 50,590 spectators watched Hertha’s Genki Haraguchi go in late on Burgstaller and receive his marching orders.

Dardai brought on Mathew Leckie and Davie Selke at half time from Ondrej Duda and Kalou. Shortly after the restart the visitors made their man advantage count as Valdimir Darida fouled Amin Harit inside the box, before Leon Goretzka squeeyed his penalty past Jarstein and into the top corner. The home side saw plenty of ball thereafter but struggled to ever look dangerous enough and get a clear sight of goal. Substitute Valentino Lazaro did look bright and full of pace down the wing, but was unable to find a man in the area.

The nail was put in the coffin with ten minutes to go as Burgstaller and Nado capitalised on a lapse at the back from Rekik, before the former rounded Jarstein to make the game safe,

Dardai brought on Mathew Leckie and Davie Selke at half time from Ondrej Duda and Kalou. Shortly after the restart the visitors made their man advantage count as Valdimir Darida fouled Amin Harit inside the box, before Leon Goretzka squeeyed his penalty past Jarstein and into the top corner. The home side saw plenty of ball thereafter but struggled to ever look dangerous enough and get a clear sight of goal. Substitute Valentino Lazaro did look bright and full of pace down the wing, but was unable to find a man in the area. The nail was put in the coffin with ten minutes to go as Burgstaller and Nado capitalised on a lapse at the back from Rekik, before the former rounded Jarstein to make the game safe,

Hertha drop to 12th in the table following the result, as Domenico Tedesco’s men move up to fifth. Pal Dardai’s lads now face another hectic double-header week, with a Europa League trip to the Ukraine on Thursday to face Zorya before a BUndesliga clash in Freiburg next Sunday.