Updated on October 23, 2021, 8:38 pm
- Hertha BSC is slowly feeling its way into the desired table region.
- The win against Mönchengladbach is not a football festival, but a reward for great commitment.
- Borussia, on the other hand, cannot gain any self-confidence for the cup classic on Wednesday.
At Hertha BSC you can laugh again. With the fourth win of the season, the Berliners left their crisis behind and Borussia Mönchengladbach spoiled the dress rehearsal for the cup cracker against FC Bayern Munich. With the 1-0 (1-0) in a hectic and fighting game, Hertha overtook the competitor in tenth and made direct contact with the upper half of the table in the Bundesliga. Marco Richter (40th minute) scored the decisive goal in front of 25,000 spectators and gave his coach Pal Dardai more job security.
After the last three games without defeat, Borussia could not gain confidence for the cup classic on Wednesday. In terms of their constitution, the overpowering Bavarians can certainly not be annoyed again as they were in the 1-1 draw at the Bundesliga opener.
Dardai and his Gladbach colleague Adi Hütter wanted continuity and stability for their teams alike this season full of zigzag moments. Dardai was happy to have almost the same starting XI as the 2-1 win in Frankfurt a week ago. He only had to order his son Marton Dardai into the starting line-up for Niklas Stark, who had an adductor injury.
Referee must take back penalty in favor of Borussia
Hütter also had to change his defense with Rami Bensebaini for Matthias Ginter (slight fever). The young Berlin-based Luca Netz received his trust from Hütter – and from the fans of his youth club, which he had left in the summer, whistles every time the ball touches the ball. Unimpressed, the 18-year-old initiated the Gladbachers’ first chance. Nico Elvedi almost used his cross with a header.
Referee Benjamin Cortus had to correct himself shortly afterwards. His penalty whistle in favor of Borussia after an alleged foul by Maximilian Mittelstädt on Joseph Scally (7th) turned out to be wrong according to the video images. After that, Cortus could have used images more often for his decisions. With a few unfortunate decisions, the referee contributed to the already growing hectic pace of a muddled game. Dardai and Hütter kept shaking their heads on the sidelines.
Gladbach was more robust and had a good chance through Breel Embolo (18th) with a shot from an acute angle. Hertha hardly took place offensively and offered the big slap-stick moment through ricochets from goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow and Peter Pekarik (37th). Gladbach got such a corner, but Elvedi headed past.
A goal could only come by chance in this troubled game. The ball ricocheted from Elvedi’s back to Richter, who shot in, surprised and grateful. Now the Berliners were there and almost quickly increased with Marton Dardai’s header (45th).
Hütter brought Alassane Plea and Florian Neuhaus into play. More offensive variability was apparently the goal. Plea (48th) almost quickly surprised the Berliners, but his attempt just went over. The same picture quickly prevailed as in the first half. Lots of duels, lots of interruptions. That was more of a help to Hertha, who defended the lead with great physical effort, which the fighter Dardai liked on the sidelines. (dpa / fra)
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