Defeat in Düsseldorf

Formation

Pál Dárdai made two changes to his starting XI compared to last week as Vladimir Darida and Javairo Dilrosun came in for Fabian Lustenberger and Marvin Plattenhardt. Marvin Plattenhardt had to withdraw from the matchday squad due to illness and Derrick Luckassen came in as a replacement.

For the opposition, Friedhelm Funkel made two changes to his team with Rouwen Hennings and Dodi Lukebakio coming in to start. Surprisingly ex-Hertha player Alfredo Morales was not in the starting XI.

Match Summary

The home side began the game with an early chance in the eighth minute as Hennings ghosted into the box but put his effort over Rune Jarstein’s crossbar. It was a slow start for Hertha Berlin who needed a good fifteen minutes to get into the game but they had the first clear cut chance of the game. After good work from Salomon Kalou, Ondrej Duda then weaved his way past two defenders to then shoot at goal, but his effort was tipped round the post by the Düsseldorf goalkeeper. There were a couple more chances throughout the second half but neither keeper was properly tested. Niklas Stark had to be substituted as he picked up an injury which was a blow for the away side, shortly before Maxi Mittelstädt got sent off for picking up two yellow cards for two professional fouls.

The second half began with a goal for the home side. Düsseldorf’s Japanese attacking midfielder rifled a shot into the top corner of the net from just inside the box, leaving the Hertha goalkeeper with no chance. Pál Dárdai reacted quickly and brought on Davie Selke in order to try and find a way back into the game. However, it was once again home side who scored. Rouven Hennings scored a tap in to double the lead of the home side after good work down the right flank from Matthias Zimmermann. Hertha, with only 10 men on the pitch were finding it difficult to get out of their half. In the last ten minutes of the game, there was a rush of goals. Firstly, Benito Raman, who had just come onto the pitch scored to make it 3-0. However, the one positive from today was Davie Selke’s goal. The German striker superbly held off his defender whilst running hard towards the goal before slotting it home to score his first goal of the season. Nevertheless, any hopes of a revival were quashed as Raman scored his second goal of the game in added time to make it 4-1.

Conclusion and Outlook

Fortuna Düsseldorf won their first Bundesliga game after six consecutive losses. The capital club are now winless in five games. After the international break, Hertha Berlin will face TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at the Olympiastadion.