Hertha Berlin host Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Saturday with the two sides separated by a single point towards the bottom of the table.
Both teams will be looking to bounce back from defeats in midweek in order to put more distance between themselves and the relegation zone.
Match preview
After beating Schalke 04 by three goals to nil in the first game back after the break, Hertha looked as though they may be about to go on a run and deliver the type of performances and results expected of them, especially with four games in a row against sides in the bottom half of the Bundesliga.
However, Bruno Labbadia's side have failed to win any of their three matches since, drawing with FC Koln and losing to Arminia Bielefeld and Hoffenheim, with the 3-0 defeat on Tuesday perhaps Hertha's lowest ebb of the season so far.
Injury-struck Hoffenheim had taken only one point from their three matches in this calendar year, but produced a counter-attacking masterclass led by an Andrej Kramaric back to his best.
Sebastian Rudy had opened the scoring in the first half for Sebastian Hoeness's side, which always plays into Hoffenheim's hands as a side who like to soak up pressure and transition as quickly as possible when the opportunities arise. Kramaric duly proved the difference between the sides, scoring his first brace since he inspired his side to a 4-3 win over Bayern Munich in late September.
Hertha must find form soon with Arminia and Koln breathing down their necks.
After narrowly surviving relegation via a playoff with Heidenheim last season, it is less of a surprise to see Bremen lurking only six points above the relegation zone.
Florian Kohfeldt's side have proved more difficult to beat than last campaign, though, with Tuesday's narrow 1-0 defeat at Borussia Monchengladbach only their seventh league defeat in 17 matches.
They were unfortunate not to claim a point, too, with Milot Rashica and Leonardo Bittencourt both going agonisingly close in the dying stages after Nico Elvedi had broken the deadlock with a fine header in the 66th minute.
In truth, there was little between Bremen and their Champions League opponents, which will give Kohfeldt great hope of gaining a positive result at a comparatively struggling Hertha on Saturday.
Hertha Berlin Bundesliga form: DLWLDL
Werder Bremen Bundesliga form: LWLDWL
Werder Bremen form (all competitions): WWLDWL
Team News
Hertha are unlikely to have Marvin Plattenhardt, Dedryck Boyata, Marton Dardai, Javairo Dilrosun or Eduard Lowen available to them due to injury.
Labbadia could mix things up after the disastrous defeat to Hoffenheim, with Dodi Lukebakio likely to come into the starting XI in place of Krzysztof Piatek.
Bremen, meanwhile, are likely to remain without top goalscorer Niclas Fullkrug for another month due to the forward's ankle injury.
Ludwig Augustinsson, Christian Gross and Patrik Erras are unlikely to travel to Berlin, too, with Nick Woltemade out with a virus.
Given Rashica's impact off the bench against Gladbach, Kohfeldt is likely to hand the forward a start providing his hamstring issues are fully behind him.
Hertha Berlin possible starting lineup:
Schwolow; Pekarik, Stark, Alderete, Mittelstadt; Tousart, Darida, Guendouzi; Lukebakio, Cordoba, Cunha
Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:
Pavlenka; Veljkovic, Toprak, Friedl; Gebre-Selassie, Eggestein, Mohwald, Bittencourt, Agu; Sargent, Rashica
We say: Hertha Berlin 1-1 Werder Bremen
Bremen games are usually closely fought affairs and we do not envisage this one being any different.
Both managers may be content with a point to boost confidence among their ranks and, depending on how the sides below them fare, potentially move further away from the relegation zone.
Top betting tip
body check tags ::
Previews by email
