It’s for the crown of the capital – but it’s an unequal fight! In the derby between Hertha and Union must on Saturday (3.30 p.m./Sky and in the BILD live ticker) the table penultimate ran against the second placed. Hertha lurches headlessly towards the 2nd league. Union is currently the number 1 Bayern hunter with brains.
For years, the people from Köpenick were the little neighbors, but now they have outstripped the old lady. The fact is: Four derbies in a row went to Union, Hertha celebrated the last win in December 202I0. It is also a fact: For 83 matchdays, the irons have been ahead of the blue and whites in the table. BILD makes the big check before the two-class derby today!
Die Form
Union: The Köpenickers started 2023 with two wins (3-1 against Hoffenheim/2-1 in Bremen). Rani Khedira (29) before the derby: “We want to win the week.” The success at Werder was the fourth away three of the season. Union is fifth in the away table.
there isn’t! The bad pass buck from Bremen
Hertha: The year 2023 started with two defeats (1:3 in Bochum/0:5 at home against Wolfsburg). Hertha is in 15th place in the home game table this season. Ten of the 14 season points were scored in the Olympic Stadium, which will be full in the derby . A glimmer of hope: The only Bundesliga wins against Union (4-0 and 3-1) came here.
The first half
Union: More is almost impossible. 33 points are a half-series club record! There are ten wins in 17 games – only FC Bayern and BVB have scored as many three-pointers. And Union is also in the DFB Cup and the Europa League…
Hertha: …is in 17th place after 17 games. The meager 14 points (just three wins and nine defeats) are the result of a relegation team. At the same time, Hertha had 21 points last season and ended up being relegated. Only top scorer Dodi Lukebakio (seven goals) gives hope.
Die Transfers
Union: The departure of Julian Ryerson (25/Borussia Dortmund) hurt, but Croatian right-back Josip Juranovic (27/Celtic Glasgow) brought a World Cup player for €8m. Also new: Jerome Roussillon (30/Wolfsburg). And the left-back is not the latest addition. With Aissa Laidouni (26 / Ferencvaros Budapest), an attacking midfielder is approaching.
Hertha: The Charlottenburgers spent just under seven million euros on newcomers throughout the season (four million of them for striker Wilfried Kanga), brought in many free transfer professionals or players on loan. For this, 25 million euros were taken for mass departures (among others Maier, Selke, Lee, Darida). Reason: Hertha’s squad has to be slimmed down because the immense personnel costs would otherwise blow up the budget. Augsburg’s Florian Niederlechner recently came for a small six-figure sum.
You don’t have to be a fan Kovac’ Wolfsburg is really up for it!
The trainers
Union: Where he is is at the top. Urs Fischer (56) has been training the iron since 2018. Promotion, relegation, Europe twice – there doesn’t seem to be any limit. Union celebrated their 50th Bundesliga victory in Bremen. So it was of course also Fischer’s anniversary threesome.
Hertha: Sandro Schwarz (44) has scored 0.82 points per game so far. Since 1997 only Tayfun Korkut (0.69) and Michael Skibbe (0.0!) have been worse. Black has to score, says: “The derby is just right. A huge opportunity to turn the mood.”
The tip
Union-Reporter Sebastian Karkos: “The chest is wide, the pressure at Hertha. Union won the last derby in the Olympic Stadium 4-1 in April 2022 – there will be a repeat.”
Hertha-Reporter Roberto Lamprecht: “Hertha can do a lot more than they showed last time and fought for a 2-2 lead.”
