Hertha had a good match a week ago. The old lady broke with Bayer (0:0) on the road. Considering how powerful the Leverkusen football players are at the moment, such a result can definitely be considered successful. However, the latest performance of Burno Labbadia’s charges leaves much to be desired. In the previous 5 matches they won only 1 time with 2 draws and 2 defeats. The difference between goals scored and conceded during this period is 7 and 8, respectively. At the moment, Hertha is in 13th place in the standings. There are only 8 points on the account. The gap from the relegation zone is only 3 points. Let us remind you that before the start of the season the management of the Moscow team announced their intention to compete for a place in the TOP-4. At the moment Hertha is Germany’s worst team in terms of home results. In 4 games only 1 draw was recorded with 3 defeats. 4 goals are scored and 11 conceded. 3 out of 4 matches ended in “both will score – yes”. John Cordoba, who has 3 goals, will not appear on the field.
Bayer is with one foot in the playoffs. The Germans have to score 1 point in 2 rounds, which is the second year in a row to reach the 1/16 of the Europa League. We think Peter Bose’s charges will cope with this task. Their shape allows counting not only on getting out of the quartet, but also on a real fight for the trophy. In the last 9 matches (in all tournaments) the team has 8 victories and 1 defeat. The only defeat for the apothecaries in the current Europa League was on the road away from Prague Slavia (1:0). In the remaining 3 fights the team confidently won. In 3 victorious matches 14 goals were scored and 5 conceded. Naturally, all 3 games were riding (TB 4.5 made it through). Over the past 2 years (7 away matches in the Champions League) Bayer suffered only 2 defeats from Slavia and from Inter (2:1). Out are Arangis, Palacios and Arias. Still questionable are Tapsoba, Lars and Sven Bendery.
