Bundesliga: No Room for Error in Outside Title Bid

Borussia Dortmund vs Hertha Berlin

The Bundesliga has been back three weeks and already we have witnessed plenty of moments where star players have shone bright.

From Kai Havertz to Timo Werner – who has this very day been linked with a move to Premier League club Chelsea – there have been class acts all over the pitch.

Yet amongst all the Bundesliga highlights since the restart, one particular game and one goal stands out as being the defining one.

The seemingly pivotal game in the title race which saw reigning champions Bayern Munich take a stranglehold with a hard-fought victory at Signal Iduna Park.

That put the Bavarians seven points clear at the top, an advantage they have retained with five matches remaining, and means nearest challengers Borussia Dortmund simply cannot afford any slip-up as they prepare to welcome midtable Hertha Berlin to town.

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Talking Points

All eyes, of course, will be on the red-hot Jadon Sancho, fresh from netting his first professional hat-trick.

With 17 goals and 16 assists, no player has had a hand in more goals than Sancho – repeatedly linked with a summer move to Manchester United – this term.

His record against Saturday’s opponents isn’t too shabby either.

The young English talent has scored three times and registered three assists in just four league games against Hertha.

Only Ciro Immobile (34) has been directly involved in more goals this season across Europe’s top five divisions than Sancho (33).

On the team news front, prolific young striker Erling Haaland remains a doubt with a knee injury, while Mats Hummels is suspended after picking up a fifth yellow card of the season at Paderborn.

Emre Can is the most likely to fill the void at the heart of a back three.

Dan Axel Zagadou, Mahmoud Dahoud, Marco Reus and Nico Schulz remain on the sidelines. Axel Witsel could return to the starting XI after building up his fitness in recent weeks.

This is a reunion for home coach Lucien Favre who managed Hertha from 2007 until September 2009, leading the capital club to an impressive fourth place in the 2008/09 campaign.

It’s virtually impossible not to tip the hosts but they do meet a team in form, a side which has not lost since the restart, including an impressive 2-2 draw at third placed RB Leipzig.

Hertha Berlin are winless in their last 5 Bundesliga meetings against Borussia Dortmund — Krzysztof Piatek celebrates scoring their second goal against RB Leipzig

In Krzysztof Piatek they have recruited very well and he, along with Javairo Dilrosun, were on target in the 2-0 win over Augsburg last weekend.

Club captain Vedad Ibisevic is also available to spearhead the attack with Dilrosun expected to keep his place on the left with Matheus Cunha a doubt as he continues to recover from concussion.

In the dugout, it’s been a season of much change for Hertha. Indeed, they have had five coaches in a year.

Jürgen Klinsmann was their coach for the reverse fixture in November and they have had Alexander Nouri and Bruno Labbadia in the dugout since.

The later’s proving a popular figure, winning three of their five games since the restart. When he replaced Nouri, Hertha could still have been dragged into a relegation fight but now find themselves in ninth place and, while unlikely, can’t be ruled out of an outside bet for European qualification.

This has the potential to be an entertaining teatime clash.

History

Dortmund have won 29 of their 65 previous Bundesliga meetings with Hertha who, in turn, have won none of the last five clashes.

Their last success against BVB came in 2017 when Marvin Plattenhardt and Salomon Kalou netted the goals in a 2-1 home success. Now Arsenal man Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang replied for Dortmund.

Indeed, Dortmund have lost just one of their last 12 games against Hertha in all competitions.

Earlier this season they won 2-1 in Berlin. Borussia had Hummels sent off on the stroke of half-time, but held on to win and spoil Klinsmann’s managerial debut for the club thanks to goals from Sancho and Thorgan Hazard.

This corresponding fixture last season ended 2-2 when Sancho twice put Dortmund in front before Kalou twice hit back, including a last-minute equaliser.

Berlin have not won in Dortmund since December 2013.

Betting Tip

	Borussia Dortmund vs Hertha Berlin	Total Goals 2-3 @ 2.30
	June 7, 00:30 (GMT+8)

The SBOBET Bundesliga betting odds back the second placed challengers with something to spare. They are available to tip 1X2 @ 1.37 with Hertha out @ 7.00. The draw @ 5.00 will tempt some, of course.

With Asian Handicap odds, how about Dortmund -1.75 @ 2.28 or Hertha + 1.25 @ 2.17, or even a repeat of last season’s encounter – correct score 2-2 – @ 18.00.