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Bundesliga, matchday 10
In the duel between the clubs of the capital, the team of coach Bruno Labbadia clearly prevailed at the end. Union takes the lead, but then weakens.
A major success for Hertha BSC in the Berlin derby: In a 3-1 (0-1) win against 1. FC Union, coach Bruno Labbadia’s team celebrated their first home win of the Bundesliga season and delivered back to the game. Peter Pekarik (51st) and Krzystof Piatek (74th, 77th) scored against “Hierro”, who had gone ahead through Taiwo Awoniyi (20th). However, the guests weakened early when Robert Andrich (23) was sent off and could no longer continue the strong opening phase.
“I am very happy, a great feeling. We have won the derby and we are a team. We proved it today,” said match winner Piatek on DAZN. His teammate Niklas Stark added: “We knew what was at stake. For the fans, the whole city. Berlin is blue and white, as always.”
The Unioner, who went to a derby for the first time as the highest ranked team, wanted to make up for something after the frustrating 4-0 in the last urban duel in May. Midfielder Andrich gave clear signals with two rustic duels in the apparently ghostly Olympic Stadium without fans: eight straight games without defeat ensured a lot of confidence in Hierro.
Union surprised the hosts
Hertha manager Bruno Labbadia initially managed without Piatek. For this he brought Lucas Tousart an additional midfielder. In addition, after a long injury and a Covid-19 break, Jordan Torunarigha replaced the ill Omar Alderete in defense.
Hertha took control optically. But with the first serious attack, the guests surprised the hosts. Marcus Ingvartsen passed the ball to Awoniyi, the loan from Liverpool beat Tousart and Matteo Guendouzi and pushed the ball into the far corner to score his second goal of the season.
From minute 24, at least numerically, the balance of forces in the field suddenly changed. Andrich dueled again without looking and hit Tousart on the head with one leg too high. Referee Felix Brych shot straight into the red.
Cordoba was missing in Hertha
Hertha struggled with staff superiority, the five-man chain, which was offered by Union coach Urs Fischer from the start, closed the quarters. Dodi Lukebakio had the first opportunity for Hertha after a corner from Matheus Cunha. But the Belgian header came out too misplaced. Shortly before the break, Julian Ryerson cleared Lukebakio again after a tackle by Vladimir Darida.
Hertha would have needed the penetration of striker Jhon Córdoba well, but the Colombian is currently missing and the clearer Santiago Ascacibar due to injury. Union had to cope in the derby without attackers Anthony Ujah and Joel Pohjanpalo, as well as Nico Schlotterbeck and Christian Gentner.
Union concern for Max Kruse
Hertha sporting director Arne Friedrich made a clear judgment at halftime. “We are playing a bad game.” Labbadia reacted and brought in Piatek and Javairo Dilrosun as offensive forces, and was successful: Union goalkeeper Andreas Luthe was only able to get the shot from Hertha’s top scorer Cunha, defender Pekarik put the ball into the net for the second goal of the season.
But Union didn’t allow herself to be disturbed at first. But Piatek’s first Bundesliga double, which was bought by AC Milan for 24 million euros a year ago, made the decision for Hertha. Union had no strength to counterattack again. Then another bitter scene for the guests: Max Kruse, who couldn’t put on big accents this time around, was injured in injury time and had to leave the field.
