Hertha and Union: The big check

Union won the last four competitive games against Hertha: The Irons won both on the first matchday of this season (3:1) and in the two Bundesliga duels of the previous season (2:0, 4:1), Union also decided the round of 16 of the DFB- Cup 2021/22 for themselves (3: 2). After all: Hertha was able to win two of three Bundesliga home games against Union. Currently, however, the two clubs are worlds apart in terms of sport. Union scored 57 points last year, Hertha just 26. This year, after two games, the Irons are clearly ahead again: Union scored the maximum haul of six points (3-1 against Hoffenheim, 2-1 in Bremen), while Hertha did (1:3 in Bochum, 0:5 against Wolfsburg) got stuck in the starting block.

initial position

Hertha: At the end of the year, the club thought they were on the right track despite the disproportion between expenses and income – and crash-landed at the start of 2023, which also raises fundamental questions internally. The 1:8 goal false start not only put Hertha in 17th place, but also significantly clouded the mood in the club. 14 points after the first half of the season: This is the weakest result since the 2009/10 relegation season. Even in the pre-season, which led Hertha to relegation, the Charlottenburgers had a whopping seven points more than now after 17 games.

Union: There is no error in the system. Union Berlin is actually in second place after the first half of the season and is therefore Bayern’s number 1 hunter in the table. With 33 points and 29:22 goals, the Irons have made the most successful first half of the Bundesliga season in the club’s history, also with the 2-1 in Bremen brought in the 50th victory in the German House of Lords. “It’s extraordinary. I’m happy and enjoying it. But you shouldn’t linger too long in the past. Because we have to be ready again for the next game against Hertha,” emphasized coach Urs Fischer.

Strengthen

Hertha: Sandro Schwarz’s team made a solid impression for long stretches in the autumn and were often dangerous with their transition game. Dodi Lukebakio (seven goals) and Lucas Tousart had their strongest phase since they came to Berlin. Compared to previous years, football seemed to be progressing and the resilience within the team was growing. However, the two most recent appearances have blurred this impression.

What encourages Hertha: Especially the top opponents could be regularly annoyed this season. Against Bayern (2:3), Dortmund (0:1) and in Leipzig (2:3) there was not much missing to win a point, against Freiburg (2:2) they were closer to victory, against Frankfurt (1:1) and Leverkusen (2:2) at eye level. If this team reaches its limit, it is relatively difficult to play on. So far this January, though, she’s further from the limit than she’s been this season…

Union: The showpiece of the team from Berlin-Köpenick is still the collective work in retreat. With just 22 goals conceded, coach Fischer’s team has the third-best defensive position in the league after record champions FC Bayern Munich (15 goals conceded) and VfL Wolfsburg (20). For a long time, Union was even on the throne in this category.

Another strength is efficiency in front of the opposing goal. The Irons don’t usually need many chances to score. In addition, the team lives from their well-established processes. The distances are clearly specified by the coaching team and are consistently maintained by the players. Almost every opponent has a hard time cracking the Union code and finding a gap in the stable and compact defense.

weaknesses

Hertha: The list of deficiencies in Bochum and especially against Wolfsburg was alarmingly long. Loss of concentration, poor duel leadership, group tactical failures, a blatant susceptibility to opposing set pieces, poor positional play, lack of precision in possession, hardly any penetrating power, too little temperament and apparently in some cases quite disheveled nerves at this early stage of the season: Hertha was not suitable for the Bundesliga against Wolfsburg. After all: In the majority of the games this season, the team was much more aggressive, active, compact and self-confident. Schwarz’ request to his professionals: “We have to find our game again and play football more intensively, that’s the order on Saturday.”

Union: If the opponent combines more quickly in the transition from zone two to the last third, the weaker defenders of Union Berlin can only rarely keep up. If the depth is served cleverly, the iron ones are often left behind. In addition, the build-up game – despite some improvements during the winter break – still seems a little sluggish and haphazard at times. The Köpenick squad still lacks the right creative players who can take over the game and create moments of surprise with unusual ideas.

Personal

Hertha: Veteran Peter Pekarik is likely to replace regular right-back Jonjoe Kenny (slight concussion). Filip Uremovic replaces Agustin Rogel (suspended and knee injury) in central defense. Problem: Both have had little match practice lately. Pekarik has made two brief appearances in the league this season, totaling twelve minutes. Before his substitution against Wolfsburg, Uremovic last played against Hoffenheim in early October. In addition to Kenny and Rogel, Chidera Ejuke (knee ligament injury), Stevan Jovetic (muscular problems) and Kelian Nsona (rehab after knee surgery) are also absent from the derby.

Striker Florian Niederlechner is the beacon of hope: the newcomer is about to make his debut for his new club after recovering from a hardened thigh. “He’s someone who always goes full throttle,” says sporting director Fredi Bobic. “We need exactly those guys.” Niederlechner’s personal record against Union is good: five goals, two of them in November in the 2-2 draw of his then club FC Augsburg at the Alte Försterei. It is possible that Coach Schwarz will switch from the last preferred 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 against Union to a 4-4-2 right from the start.

Union: For Morten Thorsby, who is still lacking in training after stomach surgery, the derby is likely to come too soon. Otherwise, all players should be ready. Due to the many English weeks, coach Fischer will probably rotate a little again. So it could be that captain Christopher Trimmel will play again from the start compared to the 2-1 win in Bremen on Saturday. Josip Juranovic could switch to the left side for this. It is also conceivable that Andras Schäfer will start for Genki Haraguchi.

Trainer

Hertha: Sandro Schwarz gets a lot of compliments, but so far not enough points. Hertha only won three of the 18 competitive games he directed. In Mainz in November 2019 he had to go after a 2-3 home defeat against Union. Hertha wants to get out of the hire-and-fire mode with him in the coaching position. Schwarz (contract until 2024) has scored points at Hertha since taking office in the summer in terms of content and his unpretentious, straightforward manner.

In view of the obvious deficits of the squad, which has been losing more and more substance for years, also due to the need to save money, he is a deficiency manager. He will never complain about it. Bobic, who used up Pal Dardai and Tayfun Korkut last year and only reached safety with Felix Magath, is still a big supporter of Black. After the 5-0 defeat against Wolfsburg, Bobic said of the coach: “For me, he’s not even close to discussion. We’re going through with it.”

Union: Urs Fischer hasn’t changed much in character – with his thoughtful and matter-of-fact manner he exudes an enormous calmness and transmits this to his team. If it doesn’t work, he can also jump out of his skin and get louder. But only if it is really necessary. But the 56-year-old can also surprise: He promoted new signing Juranovic directly to the starting XI a few days after his commitment in Bremen. The Swiss is actually known for giving the new players a little time to get used to before holding them accountable.

Surroundings

Hertha: After years of megalomania, which brought the club close to the abyss in sporting and financial terms, the German champions of 1930 and 31 decided to make a much-needed return to reality. President Kay Bernstein, in office since the end of June, has calmed the atmosphere inside the club with his closeness. Hertha’s liaison with the investor Lars Windhorst, who joined in 2019, and his Tennor Holding is about to be dissolved, with the US private equity company 777 Partners the designated new investor is in the starting blocks.

The club, which has been working at high deficits for years, has squandered the 374 Windhorst millions without any sporting effect and has completely screwed up. According to kicker information, the entry of 777 Partners is to be sealed in February. New money – in the three-digit million range, divided over at least three years – is to flow as part of a capital increase. The Americans, who already have stakes in clubs in Italy (CFC Genoa), Spain (FC Sevilla), France (Red Star Paris), Belgium (Standard Liège), Brazil (Vasco da Gama) and Australia (Melbourne Victory), want to advance Hertha with money, their expertise and their worldwide network.

Union: Dirk Zingler has been president of the association since 2004. Under the leadership of Managing Director Professional Football Oliver Ruhnert and coach Urs Fischer, things have been steadily improving for Union since July 2018. The promotion to the Bundesliga, successively better placement in the top tier of German football. And now Union Berlin is in second place after 17 match days. Nevertheless, the club remains modest as usual. The 40-point mark is still in first place. Only seven points are missing…