Teams | December 5, 2020 at 12:46 AM

Derby winners!

Hertha BSC beat 1. FC Union 3-1 at the Olympiastadion on Friday evening (04/12/20). Peter Pekarík and Krzysztof Piątek turned the match on itS head in the second half.

Hertha BSC beat 1. FC Union 3-1 at the Olympiastadion on Friday evening (04/12/20). Peter Pekarík and Krzysztof Piątek turned the match on its head in the second half.

Head coach Bruno Labbadia made two changes to the team that drew with Leverkusen last week. The returning Jordan Torunarigha replaced Omar Alderete, suffering from a bruised pelvis, in central defence. Lucas Tousart was preferred to Krzysztof Piątek as Hertha started the derby with a 4-4-2 diamond formation. Union boss Urs Fischer made one change to his starting XI, bringing in Julian Ryerson for Sheraldo Becker, cousin of Hertha’s Javairô Dilrosun. In Robert Andrich and Christopher Lenz, the visitors had two former Hertha players lining up in red.

After taking a minute to remember Heinz Warneke and Michael Ottow, the seventh competitive battle between the two Berlin sides got underway. Both teams looked eager in the tackle right from the off, but there were no early chances of note. Only after 15 minutes did Mattéo Guendouzi flick a Matheus Cunha free-kick goalwards, although he couldn’t beat Andreas Luthe in goal. Five minutes later, Union had their first attack and managed to take full advantage. Taiwo Awoniyi scored on the counter to give the visitors a 1-0 lead (20’). Union shot themselves in the foot soon after, though, as Robert Andrich saw red for a dangerous high boot on Tousart (23’). Labbadia’s men soon enjoyed a greater share of possession, but chances to equalise were still hard to come by. Only in the 40th minute did Dodi Lukébakio test Luthe with a header from a Cunha free-kick, the best opportunity of the first half for the Old Lady (40’). In the final minute of the half, Lukébakio received the ball after a deflected Vladimír Darida effort, but he was unable to turn the ball home (45’).

Piątek brace secures a derby win

Hertha began the second half with two fresh faces in attack, as Dilrosun and Piątek came on for Darida and Tousart. But the equalising goal came courtesy of two players who had started the match. Cunha dribbled his way through the opposition defence and shot at Luthe, with Peter Pekarík on hand to squeeze the rebound over the line (51'). From then on, the hosts took complete control of the game. Cunha, Lukébakio and co. kept the ball, letting their opponents chase without striking the killer blow straight away. Hertha fans had to wait until the 74th minute, when the hosts gave the ball away and Piątek scored via a deflection to give Hertha a 2-1 lead. And then it got even better; Hertha‘s number 9 scored again just three minutes later, his great strike extending the lead to 3-1 (77'). That three-minute brace put Hertha on the road to victory. The derby triumph was also Hertha’s first win at home this season. A Friday night to remember at the Olympiastadion!

After success in the derby, Hertha move up to 11th place in the Bundesliga with eleven points. Next Saturday (12/12/20, 15:30 CET), Labbadia’s men will travel to face Borussia Mönchengladbach. The capital city club will have to do without Cunha, who picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Union.

15': First chance! Cunha is the creator, sending a dangerous ball towards Guendouzi, whose effort is harmless for Union 'keeper Luthe.

20': The guests take the lead. Cold shower for Hertha. Taiwo Awoniyi goes through on the left, Schwolow gets close to his effort but the ball trickles in at the far post. That hurts.

23': Red card for Union. One of Union’s challenges brings the ultimate penalty as the referee shows a straight red card.

40': Best chance so far! He could have done better, but Dodi Lukébakio couldn’t get enough power on his header to trouble Luthe. The closest we have come so far.

45': Another chance for Hertha! Darida puts the ball into the box from the left, but Dodi Lukébakio can’t get the finishing touch. Corner.

51': GOOOOOAAAAAAAL! PEKAAAA! IT’S IN! EQUALISER! PEKKAAAAA! Cunha forces Luthe into a save after a fine solo run. The Union keeper lets the ball get away, and our number two makes no mistake with the rebound. Get in!

74': GOOOOOAL! PIO, PIO, PIO! Piątek scores after he forces Luthe into a mistake. Dilrosun puts the ball into the box, where the Pole finishes it off with a deflected strike. YES!

77': PIO, PIO, PIO! IT’S A DOUBLE! Piątek scores again as he sends one into the bottom corner. Outstanding technique to finish that one off!

90': Hello, hello! Piątek has another great attempt, but Luthe sends it over the bar.

by Hertha BSC