Bayern too strong for Hertha
Tayfun Korkut made four changes to the team which started the Pokal tie on Wednesday night, naming a back five. Niklas Stark (ankle) was replaced by Linus Gechter in the starting XI for the 17-year-old’s first Bundesliga start. Márton Dárdai replaced Santi Ascacíbar in a defensive change, Peter Pekarík coming in for Lukas Klünter at right-back. Up front, Myziane Maolida replaced Marco Richter. Fredrik Bjørkan was named on the bench for the first time as a Herthaner, and Stevan Jovetić joined him after returning from an injury layoff. Jordan Torunarigha (ankle) missed out, as did Davie Selke, who tested positive for Covid-19 and is in isolation.
Bayern open the scoring after our first chance
Bundesliga matchday 20 began with a moment to forget for Hertha. Thomas Müller’s cross was met by Corentin Tolisso to seemingly open the scoring after just 80 seconds, but VAR ruled it out as the Frenchman was offside before scoring. The Blue-Whites were inundated with defensive work in the opening stages, Alexander Schwolow doing his utmost to keep the scores level. Our number 1 denied Müller twice from close range (9’), then a long-range effort from Kingsley Coman (10’), followed by further attempts from Leroy Sané and Coman (12’, 16’) and a Robert Lewandowski effort from close range (19’). The home side’s first chance came a couple of minutes later, Vladimír Darida’s cross headed down by Ishak Belfodil but Manuel Neuer equal to it (21’).
Hertha then started to open the game up, creating their own chances – Belfodil’s through ball was put wide by Maolida. The record champions then took the lead: Coman’s cross finding Tolisso for the opener (25’). Bayern’s central midfielder then missed a chance to double his and his club’s tally, putting a delivery from Gnabry over the bar (33’). The Blue-Whites were hardy against the league leaders, fighting hard and Schwolow keeping the deficit as low as possible, denying Lewandowski’s effort with some great reflexes (35’). Just before half time, Bayern doubled their lead, though. A Joshua Kimmich free kick found Müller, who was all alone and tapped home for 2-0 at the interval.
Super-sub Ekkelenkamp scores again
The second half began with Bayern proving why they are one of Europe’s top teams. Sané flashed an effort just wide on 50 minutes, but the biggest chance of the opening stages belonged to the Blue-Whites. Belfodil carried the ball well to Mittelstädt, whose cross should have been turned in by Darida, but our number 6 blazed over from six yards (52’). A triple change came from Tayfun Korkut then; the dynamic Bjørkan made his Hertha debut, with Ascacíbar and Marvin Plattenhardt also coming on for Dárdai, Mittelstädt und Darida (58’). Gnabry then had the next two chances just after the hour mark, but Hertha kept their heads high, their commitment definitely living up to this occasion. Nevertheless, Schwolow was on his toes to prevent Müller (66’.)
Jovetić made his return to the pitch on 69 minutes, replacing Maolida. With 15 minutes left, Hertha conceded a goal all of their own making. Schwolow, so strong up to that point, underhit a pass to Gechter, and Sané nipped in to make it 3-0 (75’). Shortly afterwards, Gnabry finished to make it four (79’). A consolation goal did come through Jurgen Ekkelenkamp with ten minutes to go. His first touch after coming on for Belfodil, he chipped a rebound over Neuer to make it 4-1, his third of the season. That was how it finished, with a late curler from Sané being ruled out for handball (88’).
The Bundesliga now goes into an international break, Hertha’s next game being on February 4th at home to VfL Bochum at the Olympiastadion (20:30 CET).
Hertha BSC: Schwolow; Gechter, Boyata (C), Dárdai (58’ Bjørkan); Pekarík, Tousart, Darida (58’ Ascacíbar), Mittelstädt (58’ Plattenhardt); Myziane (69’ Jovetić), Belfodil (80’ Ekkelenkamp), Serdar
FC Bayern München: Neuer (C); Pavard, Süle, Hernández (80‘ Upamecano); Gnabry (80‘ Musiala), Kimmich, Tolisso (69‘ Sabitzer), Coman (69‘ Richards); Müller (80‘ Wanner), Sané; Lewandowski
Goals: 0-1 Tolisso (25‘), 0-2 Müller (45‘), 0-3 Sané (75‘) 0-4 Gnabry (79‘), 1-4 Ekkelenkamp (80‘)
Referee: Bastian Dankert
Yellow cards: Serdar
Attendance: 3,000