Bundesliga: Another Big Night Ahead In Berlin

Union Berlin vs Hertha BSC

What could be better than Easter Sunday in Berlin? There is no finer sight than one of Europe’s historic cities thronging with activity in the night sky.

It’s a distant dream at the moment as Europe is still battling the COVID-19 pandemic but hopefully those days will return before too long.

In the meantime, life still goes on and the East West Berlin Derby is the event of the weekend in Germany’s capital city.

The match between Union Berlin and Hertha BSC will hopefully become an established fixture in the Bundesliga.

But while Union are more than comfortable in their second season in top-flight, Hertha are in danger of dropping through the trapdoor.

The Stadion An der Alten Forsterei is the largest single-purpose stadium in the German Capital, but it will be strangely quiet on Sunday evening.

We neutrals will hope for a positive result for Hertha so that we can witness a packed stadium for this fixture in 2021/22.

Whether Union fans see it the same way, your guess is as good as mine!

Talking Points

Union’s European dream

After finishing their first ever season in the top-flight in a creditable 11^th position, Die Eisemen have even higher ambitions this term as head coach Urs Fischer has guided them to the fringe of the European places.

Currently in seventh position and just two points behind free-falling Bayer Leverkusen, there will be no sentimentality when they welcome their near neighbours on Sunday.

The Eisemen have a strong home record this season with just one defeat among five wins and seven draws, and that’s the kind of solid record which may just see them in the Europa League next term.

Veteran striker Max Kruse has been a surprise hero for the East Berliners as the 33-year-old former Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg striker has bagged 10 goals from 15 games and four assists.

He was on target in Union’s recent home win against Cologne and scored a brace when they were hammered 5-2 by Eintracht Frankfurt last time out.

6-foot-3 centre-back Marvin Friedrich is a strong presence in defence and attack. The 25-year-old has four goals to his name and is a real danger from set pieces.

Hertha captain Vladimir Darida remains suspended and will not feature in their Bundesliga game vs Union Berlin — Czech Republic’s Vladimir Darida after the World Cup Qualifiers Group E match vs Wales

Pal’s return might just save Hertha

This has been a season to forget for Hertha Berlin but the return of an old friend might just make it a happy ending.

After a successful four-year stint as Hertha manager, Pal Dardai left the club in June 2019.

In the 18 intervening months until his return in January this year, four head coaches have been and gone, including Jurgen Klinsmann and Bruno Labbadia – who oversaw Hertha’s slide into the relegation mire.

A recent defeat to Borussia Dortmund left Hertha dangling precariously in 16^th place. But here at SBOTOP, we reckon they have just enough to climb away from trouble.

That loss was sandwiched by two big wins. They scored a 2-1 victory over Augsburg, and just before the international break, Hertha beat Leverkusen 3-0 doing their city rivals a big favour.

The pressure has been piling on Hertha, particularly as Mainz recorded their fifth win in nine games with a victory over Hoffenheim. But Hertha responded well as Deyovaiso Zeefuik opened the scoring with just four minutes on the clock.

Vladimir Darida was in action for the Czech Republic over the international weekend and he will be a big player if Hertha are to haul themselves away from trouble.

Darida will certainly want to see fellow striker Krysztof Piatek get back on the Bundesliga 2021 highlights reel to add to his six goals.

History

Union Berlin was formed under its current name in 1966. And following unification in 1990, the Eisemen climbed the ladder – playing in Bundesliga 2 from 2009 until their promotion in 2019.

In contrast, Hertha have been a long standing fixture in the top-flight and are twice winners of the Bundesliga on both occasions in the 1930s and they finished 10th last season – a place above their city rivals.

Hertha have had the better of the previous results. They’ve won four of the previous eight meetings and drawn two, while Union have enjoyed two victories.

Last season’s fixture on Union’s home turf ended in a 1-0 win for the hosts as Sebastian Polter’s 90^th minute goal sparked more celebrations in the stadium after the game had been halted by the crowd throwing flares earlier in the second half.