Table of Contents
Hertha BSC vs. Union Berlin
This coming Saturday evening it’s time – the third and last capital city derby of the 2021/22 season is coming up. Just like the clash in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup almost three months ago, the second leg in the Bundesliga will also be played at Berlin’s Olympiastadion. Kick-off is at 18:30.
The team from Köpenick won the aforementioned cup duel 3:2. After the 2-0 home win in the first half of the season, it was the first time ever that Union had won two derbies in a row against Hertha. The only two away games in the Bundesliga, however, were lost at the Alte Dame with 1:3 and 0:4. We can look forward to seeing which of the two capital clubs will come out on top on Saturday.
On the whole season, Union is clearly better on the road, but after the results of the last few weeks (on both sides), there is absolutely no favourite to be found for the upcoming derby. In a game like this, however, that wouldn’t mean anything anyway. The only thing that matters is what happens on the pitch during the 90 minutes and what we think is possible there, you can read now in our Hertha vs Union tip.
Hertha – Union Info
– Date & Time: 09.04.2022, 18:30 Uhr
– Venue: Berlin, Olympiastadion
– Competition: Bundesliga, 29th matchday
– TV broadcast: Sky Sport Bundesliga
Hertha Form & Balance Check
The hosts have just 26 points on their account after 28 matchdays, the same number they had at the same point in the last relegation season in 2011/12. That may not be a good omen, but at least the Berliners still have everything in their own hands in the coming weeks. It is almost curious that the Old Lady still has to deal with three direct competitors in the final spurt of the season.
After the derby against Union, Felix Magath’s BSC team will travel to FC Augsburg (13th), who are in surprisingly good form, before VfB Stuttgart (15th) visit the Olympiastadion. The weeks of truth are completed a week later with an away game at Arminia Bielefeld, currently sixteenth in the table. If the capital city team fails to pick up at least four points from these three games, it will be very difficult for them to stay in the league. However, the current form curve should give the supporters some hope.
Will this be the 2nd home win in a row?
In the last home match against Hoffenheim (3:0), Hertha ended a negative run of five home games in a row without a win and thus won the first match after the short era of Korkut. The subsequent 2-1 defeat in Leverkusen did not result in any points, but the performance was still okay. In the derby against Union, however, it’s not about the performance and certainly not about playing nice, but solely about leaving the pitch as derby winners and with three very important points in the bag.
Hertha facts & analysis
– 26 points from 28 games
– Last lost 1:2 at Leverkusen
– Already 32 field players used – no Bundesliga team more
– Won both Bundesliga home games against Union (4:1, 3:0)
Union Form & Balance Check
The visitors from Köpenick have a proud 41 points on their account after the altogether fortunate 1-0 home win against 1. FC Köln, which means that the most important goal of the season – cracking the 40-point mark – has already been achieved six matchdays before the end of the season. The Eisern have never had so many points in the Bundesliga at this point. It’s hard to imagine what might have been possible if Max Kruse hadn’t left the Berlin club for Wolfsburg in the winter.
Goal drought without Kruse
Since the 34-year-old is no longer on the pitch for Union, the offensive has been virtually dead in the water. Excluding the 3:1 home win against Mainz 05, the Eisernen have scored just two goals in the seven games without Kruse – one against Stuttgart (1:1) and one against Cologne (1:0), whereby the goal against Cologne was aided by a catastrophic mispass by Jonas Hector. The Köpenicker’s strengths have clearly been in defence since their promotion to the Bundesliga, but Urs Fischer’s team has never been so harmless since then.
With regard to the derby, however, that doesn’t really matter, because the main thing there is to find your way into the game through fight and passion, and since Union hardly ever lack these virtues, that will probably not happen in the derby. In addition, there is still a lot at stake in terms of the table. Taiwo Awoniyi & Co. are currently in seventh place, just three and four points behind SC Freiburg and TSG Hoffenheim, who are currently in fifth and sixth place respectively. International business is therefore within immediate reach.
Union facts & analysis
– 41 points from 28 games
– Last win 1:0 against Cologne
– Only 5 goals in last 8 games
– Last 2 derbies won against Hertha
Predicted line-up – last update on 7 April 2022
Felix Magath was especially not satisfied with the performance of Marc-Oliver Kempf in Leverkusen. He is threatened with the bench in the derby. Youngster Linus Gechter could play in his place. In the defensive midfield, Marton Dardai emerged as another option during the training week. He could replace the injured Niklas Stark. Goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow will be out until the end of the season with a tendon injury, so substitute keeper Marcel Lotka will once again be between the posts.
The visitors will have to do without suspended centre-back Paul Jaeckel. Dominique Heintz will play in his place. Apart from that, however, there should be no changes. Regular keeper Alexander Luthe will not be fit for the derby yet. His substitute is Frederik Rönnow.
We are looking for our next derby hero! 🔵⚪️ BSCFCU TogetherHertha HaHoHe pic.twitter.com/ltJJ2pgn7n
– Hertha BSC (@HerthaBSC) April 7, 2022
Hertha – Union direct comparison & Statistics
The direct comparison is narrowly in favour of the Ironmen, with four wins to three and three draws. The last two encounters, both of which Union won, were decisive for this. First the first leg in the Bundesliga with 2:0 and then the away game in the DFB Cup with 2:3.
– A look at Hertha BSC: Stevan Jovetic is the top scorer with 6 goals. Taiwo Awoniyi scored 12 times for Union Berlin.
– The winner of the last encounter was Union Berlin.
– Hertha BSC: Kevin Prince Boateng has collected the most yellow cards (7). For Union Berlin it is Rani Khedira (6).
– Maximilian Mittelstadt has the most assists on goal for Hertha BSC with 4. For Union Berlin, Niko Giesselmann (5) is in the lead.
