Early Gladbach goal blitz downs Hertha in Berlin

Three early goals gave Hertha a mountain to climb on Saturday evening, as a spirited fightback wasn’t enough to prevent a 4-2 defeat to Gladbach in the Olympiastadion.

Berlin- Shocked. That was the only way to explain the mood in most of the Olympiastadion at ten to seven on Saturday night as Hertha could only watch on in disbelief as Gladbach built a three goal cushion inside 20 minutes.

Vedad Ibisevic pulled one back, before Mitchell Weiser set up a tense finish late on, only for Raffael to grab his second of the game and put the result beyond doubt soon after.

Pal Dardai made three changes from the exciting three-all draw with Wolfsburg. Arne Maier moved into midfield in place of Niklas Stark and Alex Esswein replaced Peter Pekarik. Vedad Ibisevic had a new strike partner, as he started alongside Davie Selke for the first time – the summer signing replacing the new permanent signing of Valentino Lazaro.

After the fast start last time out in Wolfsburg, Hertha were left in the starting blocks on Saturday, as Gladbach strolled into a 3-0 lead. Lars Stindl turned home Denis Zakaria’s cross early, before VAR decided Karim Rekik had handled Stindl’s effort moments later. Thorgan Hazard’s subsequent penalty was then added to by a pile-driver from distance from Raffael, as Hertha failed to track down the former Blue-White when a free kick was only half cleared.

From that moment on all the action in the first half took place at the other end. Vedad Ibisevic prodded home to get Hertha on the board after his original effort had been blocked by ‘keeper Yann Sommer and the Bosnian striker then hit the post and bar in successive minutes following a series of corners and pressure from the home side.

Pal Dardai’s men came out all guns blazing after the break, getting themselves into a series of good chances, as Vedad Ibisevic and Davie Selke showed glimpses of promise as a forward duo by combining well, though their efforts on this occasion went unrewarded. Mitchell Weiser rifled home a second for Hertha to seemingly set up an exciting finish, but the hard work was undone just minutes later as Raffael rounded off a flowing Borussia move to put the game beyond doubt.

After the fast start last time out in Wolfsburg, Hertha were left in the starting blocks on Saturday, as Gladbach strolled into a 3-0 lead. Lars Stindl turned home Denis Zakaria’s cross early, before VAR decided Karim Rekik had handled Stindl’s effort moments later. Thorgan Hazard’s subsequent penalty was then added to by a pile-driver from distance from Raffael, as Hertha failed to track down the former Blue-White when a free kick was only half cleared. #

From that moment on all the action in the first half took place at the other end. Vedad Ibisevic prodded home to get Hertha on the board after his original effort had been blocked by ‘keeper Yann Sommer and the Bosnian striker then hit the post and bar in successive minutes following a series of corners and pressure from the home side.

Pal Dardai’s men came out all guns blazing after the break, getting themselves into a series of good chances, as Vedad Ibisevic and Davie Selke showed glimpses of promise as a forward duo by combining well, though their efforts on this occasion went unrewarded.

Mitchell Weiser rifled home a second for Hertha to seemingly set up an exciting finish, but the hard work was undone just minutes later as Raffael rounded off a flowing Borussia move to put the game beyond doubt.

After this time coming out on the wrong side of the scoreline from a Bundesliga contest with six goals, Hertha now turn their attention to the Europa League, where they know only a win will do in Bilbao on Thursday (19:00 CET) if they want to keep their chances of progressing to the knockout stages alive.

Pal Dardai will then take his team to league’s bottom side for a clash with FC Köln next Sunday (18:00 CET), as the search for a first away league win of the season continues.

After this time coming out on the wrong side of the scoreline from a Bundesliga contest with six goals, Hertha now turn their attention to the Europa League, where they know only a win will do in Bilbao on Thursday (19:00 CET) if they are to keep their chances of progressing to the knockout stages alive.

Pal Dardai will then take his team to the Bundesliga’s bottom side for a clash with FC Köln next Sunday (18:00 CET), as the search for a first away league win of the season continues.