Table of Contents
Hertha BSC vs. TSG Hoffenheim
Bang in the capital! After the fifth defeat in a row and the resulting fall to 17th place, Hertha’s manager Fredi Bobic has decided to make another change for the all-important phase of the season at the coaching position after all. Felix Magath is to make the seemingly impossible possible and save Europe’s weakest team from relegation to the second division. Game number one of the Magath era takes place on Saturday at 15:30 in Berlin’s Olympiastadion. The opponent is TSG Hoffenheim as part of the 27th matchday of the Bundesliga.
However, the prospects for the Berliners there are not really rosy. While Hertha is the only team still winless in the second half of the season, TSG has not lost for the longest time of all Bundesliga teams. The direct duels of recent years – especially the encounters at the Olympiastadion – also give rather little hope from the host’s point of view.
It is doubtful that the Old Lady will be able to benefit from the famous coaching change effect under these circumstances, especially since the new coach will not even be on the bench on Saturday due to a positive Corona finding. Whether we still believe the home side will be successful and what we think about this game, you can find out now in our Hertha vs. Hoffenheim tip.
Hertha – Hoffenheim info
– Date & Time: 19.03.2022, 15:30 hrs.
– Venue: Berlin, Olympiastadion
– Competition: Bundesliga, 27th matchday
– TV broadcast: Sky Sport Bundesliga
Hertha form & balance check
After his last coaching stint at Chinese club SD Luneng (resignation in 2017), Felix Magath himself probably would not have thought it possible that he will be active in his career again as a coach in the Bundesliga. But special situations call for special measures, and that’s why Hertha’s manager Fredi Bobic has decided to reanimate an old acquaintance for the final spurt of the season in the coaching position, who is expected to use all his experience and authoritarian management style to help the club stay in the class. However, the much-asked question of whether he is the right man for the job should first be preceded by the question of whether there can be a right man for the job at all.
Is Hertha even still to be saved?
Because even an experienced coach like Felix Magath can only turn a few screws in such a short time. Even he will not be able to change the fact that Hertha BSC has a completely unbalanced team that is in no way suitable for the first league in its current form by the end of the season. There is a threat of a scenario similar to that at FC Schalke 04 last season, where the lifeless team was not really helped by the many changes of coach.
The Old Lady has picked up just two points from its nine second-round matches so far, at least four fewer than any other Bundesliga side. The Berliners have lost all of their last five games – the last time there was a longer series with defeats was ten years ago. The home games in particular have been shockingly weak since the turn of the year. A proud 18 goals were conceded in the last five games in front of the home crowd. Most recently, the 4-1 home defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt was followed by a 2-0 away defeat at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Hertha facts & analysis
– 23 points from 26 games.
– Last lost 0:2 in Gladbach
– 2 points from last 9 games
– Last 5 games lost
Hoffenheim form & balance check
In contrast, things have been going like clockwork for the guests from Sinsheim for some time now. With the 1-1 draw against FC Bayern Munich, TSG remained unbeaten for the fifth time in a row last weekend – no Bundesliga team is currently waiting longer for a defeat. Prior to the draw against league leaders Bayern, Sebastian Hoeneß’ side had even won four in a row, at home against Bielefeld (2-0) and Stuttgart (2-1), and away at VfL Wolfsburg (2-1) and 1. FC Köln (1-0).
TSG now also stable at the back
As can be easily seen from the recent results, the defense in particular has been doing a very good job lately, which has been far from always the case this season. After keeper Oliver Baumann had to swallow a whopping 17 goals conceded in nine games between Matchday 13 and Matchday 21, he has conceded just three in the last five games, never more than one per game. If Hoffenheim maintains its current form, it might even be enough for a Champions League spot in the end. Currently, third place (Leverkusen, 45 points) and sixth place (Hoffenheim, 44 points) are separated by just one point.
Hoffenheim facts & analysis
– 44 points from 26 games.
– Last played 1:1 against Bayern
– Only 3 goals conceded in last 5 matches
– Lost only 1 of last 12 duels with Hertha
Predicted lineup – last update on March 17, 2022
With the Berliners, we can be curious about what changes Felix Magath will make. We can only speculate who the 68-year-old will send into the race. Compared to the last game, we expect Jovetic for Selke, Mittelstädt for Plattenhardt and Boyata for Stark. In addition, the team could switch to a four-man backfield, with Serdar coming in for Gechter. Jarstein and Nsona are still out.
On the part of the guests, we expect a somewhat more offensive lineup. In the center, the yellow-banned Samassekou could be replaced by Geiger. In addition, we expect the change to a double point, for which probably Stiller must move to the bench. Rudy, Bicakcic, Skov, Nordveit, Asllani and Richards continue to be missing due to injury.
And into the second session of the day! BSCTSG TogetherHertha HaHoHe pic.twitter.com/zi1nUF1dbs
– Hertha BSC (@HerthaBSC) March 16, 2022
Hertha – Hoffenheim direct comparison & statistics
The direct comparison goes to TSG with twelve to six wins and five draws. The last duels speak an even clearer language. The Sinsheim side has won four of the last five matches, most recently three in a row. TSG won the first leg 2:0 with goals from Kramaric and Rudy.
– TSG Hoffenheim has not lost any of its last 5 matches.
– A year ago TSG Hoffenheim was on position 11 in the table with 30 points. Currently, they are in position 6 (44).
– A look at Hertha BSC: Stevan Jovetic is the top scorer with 6 goals. Ihlas Bebou scored 7 times for TSG Hoffenheim.
– Hertha BSC has not won for 10 games.
– Hertha BSC celebrated the last home win against Hoffenheim in 2015.
