Defeat at home to Frankfurt
The increased capacity of 25,000 fans at the Olympiastadion saw head coach Tayfun Korkut make three changes. Marcel Lotka remained in goal, with Marc Oliver Kempf replacing Linus Gechter in central defence, the 18-year-old starting on the bench. Maximilian Mittelstädt started at left back for the Blue-Whites, taking Fredrik Bjørkan’s place, who was not in the squad. Finally, Dongjun Lee made his first start for Hertha in place of Ishak Belfodil, who dropped to the bench. Also named as substitutes were Marvin Plattenhardt and Prince Boateng, both returning from Covid-19 isolation.
Knauff heads the opener, Lee penalty appeal denied
The returning duo had the best seat in the house to see the bravery their colleagues showed in the opening stages of the game, coming forward through Marco Richter and Suat Serdar, though they did not get shots away. At the other end, the guests had their first attempts after around five minutes, but Kempf and Peter Pekarík were able to deny them (6’, 7’). As the game continued, Frankfurt had more of the ball, but our defence was able to keep them from creating any real danger, and the attack were dangerous on the counter themselves. One such example came through Stevan Jovetić, although the Montenegrin was offside in the build-up (16’). At the other end, a Filip Kostić cross was headed back across goal and into the far corner from Ansgar Knauff to give Frankfurt the lead (17’). Lotka in goal, who just before brilliantly denied Jesper Lindstrøm in a one-on-one (15’), had no chance in keeping the header out. The ‘Old Lady’ looked to hit back immediately, with Jovetić latching onto a Mittelstädt corner in space but blazing his effort over the bar (19’). From that point, it was difficult for the Blue-Whites to find gaps to exploit in Oliver Glasner’s well-organised Frankfurt side. Lee ran onto a long ball from Kempf and made his way into the penalty area, where Evan Ndicka looked to have pushed him to the floor, but referee Harm Osmers pointed for a corner rather than a penalty and the VAR did not intervene (32’). In the closing stages of the half, Jovetić put the South Korean through on goal again, but he was unable to get past Martin Hinteregger (37’). As Vladimír Darida could only shoot straight at Kevin Trapp from the edge of the area on 44 minutes, the half time whistle blew with Eintracht narrowly ahead.
Selke makes an instant impact – Frankfurt stretch their lead
The second half started with no changes for either side, but a change in the scoreline: Kostić’s cross was forced over the line by Tuta for 2-0 (48’). Hertha had a mountain to climb at that point, but it got even harder just eight minutes later, as Lotka’s clearance fell to Lindstrøm, who lobbed the ball over everyone from well over 30 yards and added to Frankfurt’s lead (56’). This goal prompted a triple change from Tayfun Korkut, and one of those changes, Davie Selke, reduced the arrears quickly after coming on. The substitute absolutely hammered a volley from the edge of the box into the far bottom corner to make it 3-1 (61’). Despite that little bit of hope, though, Frankfurt hit back within seconds of their kick-off: Rafael Borré scored to restore their three-goal advantage (63’). As the game drew on, Hertha looked to reduce the deficit once again, but did not get close to the Eintracht goal often enough. Belfodil’s attempt was denied by Trapp, as was Tousart shortly afterwards (78’, 82’). Not long after that, Mittelstädt’s shot was also blocked (85’), and despite the home side creating many dangerous opportunities, the match ended with Frankfurt the clear winners.
Hertha BSC: Lotka; Pekarík, Boyata (C), Kempf, Mittelstädt; Lee (56‘ Boateng), Darida (56’ Selke), Tousart, Richter (56‘ Belfodil); Jovetić, Serdar
Eintracht Frankfurt: Trapp; Tuta, Hinteregger, Ndicka; Knauff (83‘ Chandler), Sow (88‘ Ilsanker), Jakić, Kostić; Lindstrøm (72‘ Hauge), Borré (72‘ Lammers), Kamada (83’ Hrustić)
Goals: 0-1 Knauff (17‘), 0-2 Tuta (48‘), 0-3 Lindstrøm (56‘), 1-3 Selke (61‘), 1-4 Borré (63‘)
Referee: Harm Osmers
Yellow cards: Boateng, Mittelstädt; Hauge, Lammers
Attendance: 25,000