Home win to start the season

Head coach Pál Dárdai named the same starting XI that began the successful DFB-Pokal first round match against Eintracht Braunschweig. Jordan Torunarigha, Karim Rekik, Niklas Stark formed the back three, whilst captain Vedad Ibisevic took the centre-forward role.

The Hertha team started the game well and there were chances early on for the Berlin club. Marvin Plattenhardt lofted a dangerous cross into the box on the quarter of an hour, but no one managed to turn it goalwards. Valentino Lazaro then went close minutes later when his shot flew just over the bar. The visitors also had their fair share of chances including a sweet shot from Yuya Kubo, but he found home keeper Rune Jarstein in fine form. The breakthrough finally came as the clocked showed 27 minutes. Lazaro made a dangerous run and managed to whip a sharp low cross towards Ibisevic in the centre of the box. The Hertha captain stayed cool and swiftly turned the ball into the back of the net. Further chances followed for both teams, but it was Hertha who went into the break with an intact 1-0 lead.

Hertha started the second half on top. They came close to doubling their advantage when Rekik’s header sailed just over the bar. Gradually, Nürnberg started to find a way back into the game and created a number of chances. The game’s most crucial moment came with less than ten minutes on the clock when eagle-eyed referee Tobias Welz noticed a Rekik handball in the box and awarded a penalty to Nürnbeg. VAR was consulted, but the decision stood. However, to the delight of all Hertha fans, Jarstein, diving low to his right, got a hand to the ball and kept it from crossing the line. The superb stop solidified Jarstein’s role as the man of the hour. After a nervy last few minutes the final whistle sounded and Hertha secured a successful start to the new Bundesliga season.