Hertha concede late to lose first home game

Pál Dárdai made four changes to the team that started in Köln last week. Dedryck Boyata came in at centre-back for the injured Márton Dárdai, while Suat Serdar replaced Lucas Tousart in the midfield to make his home debut. Javairô Dilrosun, Dodi Lukébakio and Davie Selke all started in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Stevan Jovetić was dropped to the bench, while Matheus Cunha was not in the squad for the Blue-Whites.

Selke with the first chance, Prince forced off on his return to Berlin

The team started brightly in front of the returning Hertha fans and created the first chances of the match. Prince Boateng looked for Lukébakio with a through ball, which was dealt with by the VfL defence. Marvin Plattenhardt went long with the resulting throw-in, finding Davie Selke, who tested Koen Casteels with a header (4’). At the other end, Maxence Lacroix narrowly missed the target following Maximilian Arnold’s free kick. The game remained lively and Casteels needed to be sharp to gather Lukébakio’s low cross after a strong run down the right (12’). Alexander Schwolow was in a good position to save well from the head of Wout Weghorst shortly after (17’). Wolfsburg were on top at this stage of the game, but Hertha defended stoically and clear-cut chances were few and far between. Instead it was all about individual battles and defensive work. Boateng had to come off injured late in the first half with his replacement, Jovetić, making his home debut for Hertha.

Lukébakio strikes first, but Wolfsburg turn the game on its head

There was more intensity to the game after the change of ends. Renato Steffen delivered from the left for Weghorst, who couldn't quite steer his powerful effort on target to start the second half (46’). Hertha also looked dangerous going forward and Jovetić saw a powerful shot tipped round the post by Casteels. The home side took confidence from this and put van Bommel’s men under pressure. In the 58th minute, former Hertha player John Anthony Brooks brought down Lukébakio in the box and, after a VAR review, referee Dr. Jöllenbeck gave the penalty. It was Lukébakio himself who stepped up to take it, and converted emphatically to make it 1-0 after an hour. Both head coaches then opted for a change of personnel, with Dárdai giving Marco Richter a home debut (67’). After 74 minutes, a quick counterattack out of nowhere brought the away side level, as Ridle Baku broke through to make it 1-1. Hertha did everything to regain their lead and Lukébakio (76’), Ascacíbar (79’) and Richter (83’) all had chances go begging. Wolfsburg were more clinical, however, as substitute Lukas Nmecha scored the decider after being set up by Josip Brekalo (88’).

Hertha BSC: Schwolow – Pekarik, Boyata (85’ Torunarigha), Stark, Plattenhardt – Ascacíbar, Prince (43’ Jovetić), Serdar (85’ Tousart) – Dilrosun (67’ Richter), Lukébakio, Selke (85’ Zeefuik)

VfL Wolfsburg: Casteels – Mbabu, Lacroix, Brooks, Roussillon (89’ Gerhardt) – Schlager (90’+1 Guilavogui), Arnold, Baku, Philipp (70’ Nmecha), Steffen (70’ Brekalo) – Weghorst

Goals: 1-0 Lukébakio (60’), 1-1 Baku (74’), 1-2 Nmecha (88’)

Referee: Dr. Matthias Jöllenbeck

Yellow cards: Prince – Mbabu, Roussillon

Attendance: 18,241