SM
Watford vs. Oxford Utd: 6 hrs 23 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
HB
Bundesliga | Gameweek 33
May 15, 2021 at 2.30pm UK
Olympic Stadium
KL

Hertha Berlin
0 - 0
FC Koln


Boyata (13'), Torunarigha (35')
FT

Skhiri (23'), Jakobs (58')

Preview: Hertha Berlin vs. FC Koln - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Hertha Berlin vs. FC Koln - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Saturday's Bundesliga clash between Hertha Berlin and FC Koln, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Hertha Berlin take on FC Koln in a crucial relegation battle in the Bundesliga on Saturday, with the visitors in desperate need of a positive result.

The home team, meanwhile, can secure their safety with a victory.


Match preview

Having been unable to play for more than three weeks due to a COVID-19 outbreak at the club last month, Hertha have really hit the ground running upon their return to Bundesliga action in the past two weeks.

Pal Dardai's side have taken eight points from four matches while extending their unbeaten run to seven games, moving three points clear of the relegation zone in the process.

Hertha were made to work for a 2-1 victory away to already relegated Schalke 04 on Wednesday, though, with Dedryck Boyata and Jessic Ngankam securing a vital victory after Armine Harit had provided the hosts with a sixth-minute lead.

Should they continue their unbeaten run against Koln on Saturday, Hertha will be assured of finishing outside of the automatic relegation places. However, a victory would guarantee avoiding relegation altogether due to the fact that Werder Bremen and Augsburg face each other this weekend and therefore they cannot both reach 37 points.

After winning their previous two matches, Koln's hopes of surviving suffered a huge blow with a 4-1 defeat at home to Freiburg last weekend.

Friedhelm Funkel's side shot themselves in the foot with a sloppy piece of play in their own penalty area, allowing Nils Petersen to open the scoring for the visitors, who put together a fine counter-attacking move to double their first-half lead via Ermedin Demirovic's close range finish.

Sebastian Andersson's superb volley dragged Koln back into the game four minutes after the break, but they were unable to find the equaliser which they required, with Vincenzo Grifo and Jonathan Schmid ruthlessly exposing the hosts' increasing gaps in defence by adding two goals in injury time.

Should Koln fail to beat Hertha on Saturday, they would be relegated if Bremen beat Augsburg and Arminia Bielefeld defeat Hoffenheim.

However, Funkel's side do have the saving grace of facing Schalke at home on the final day, so if they can hang in there until then, they will have a decent chance of pulling off a great escape should other results go in their favour.

Hertha Berlin Bundesliga form:
  • D
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • W

FC Koln Bundesliga form:
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • L

Team News

Hertha's congested schedule following their COVID-19 outbreak appears to have taken its toll on their squad depth, with Dardai likely to be without a whole host of players for their crucial relegation battle on Saturday.

Dodi Lukebakio is suspended after his dismissal against Schalke, while Vladimir Darida picked up his fifth yellow card of the season and will also miss out, with Santiago Ascacibar likely to replace him in midfield.

Krzysztof Piatek was forced off prior to the hour mark with a knock and is unlikely to recover in time, while Jhon Cordoba and Matheus Cunha's ankle injuries further reduce Dardai's attacking options, so Ngankam should start after scoring the winner in midweek.

Marton Dardai, Maximilian Mittelstadt, Sami Khedira, Matteo Guendouzi, Rune Jarstein and Luca Netz have all been ruled out, too, with the likes of Niklas Stark, Jordan Torunarigha and Deyovaisio Zeefuik potentially coming back into the defence as manager Dardai continues his sensible squad rotation policy.

Koln, meanwhile, appear to only be without Jannes Horn and Marco Hoger due to groin injuries, so Funkel certainly has one up on his counterpart in terms of squad availability.

Noah Katterbach should replace Horn at left-back, with the likes of Ismail Jakobs, Max Meyer, Elvis Rexhbecaj and Jan Thielmann all hoping for a start after the disappointing defeat to Freiburg.

Hertha Berlin possible starting lineup:
Schwolow; Zeefuik, Boyata, Torunarigha, Plattenhardt; Ascacibar, Stark, Tousart; Dilrosun, Ngankam, Radonjic

FC Koln possible starting lineup:
Horn; Ehizibue, Bornauw, Czichos, Katterbach; Jakobs, Duda, Skhiri, Hector, Kainz; Andersson


We say: Hertha Berlin 1-1 FC Koln

Koln have been stronger away from home this season, so we can envisage them gaining a positive result against a Hertha outfit whose injuries and congested schedule are likely to take its toll.

However, Dardai has made them much tougher to beat since his appointment in February, with a draw on Saturday representing a good result for Hertha.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data




body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__447228 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-05 12:42:04:
html db last update - 2024-06-05 12:42:04 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Sunday's Bundesliga predictions including Hertha Berlin vs. Arminia Bielefeld
Major transfer boost: Man United 'given encouragement' in pursuit of Gyokeres
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Hannover11713157822
2SC PaderbornSC Paderborn115511813520
3Fortuna DusseldorfDusseldorf116231712520
4Hamburger SV1154225141119
5Karlsruher SCKarlsruher115422219319
6Nuremberg115242420417
7Magdeburg114522017317
8Hertha Berlin115241917217
9Elversberg114431913616
10KaiserslauternKaiserslautern114432018216
11FC Koln114342320315
12SV Darmstadt 98Darmstadt113442322113
13Greuther Furth113441822-413
14Preussen Munster112451418-410
15SSV UlmUlm112361013-39
16Schalke 04Schalke112361924-59
17Eintracht BraunschweigBraunschweig112361123-129
18Jahn RegensburgJahn11218530-257
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Will Palmer return? Chelsea injury, suspension list vs. Arsenal

1

WP

Preview: Chelsea vs. Arsenal - prediction, team news, lineups

2

PC

Preview: Burnley vs. Swansea - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PB

Eleven changes, will Palmer be one of them? Chelsea predicted XI against Arsenal

4

EC

Preview: Spurs vs. Ipswich - prediction, team news, lineups

5

PS

Rice question answered, will Odegaard start? Arsenal predicted XI against Chelsea

6

RQ

Chelsea vs. Arsenal: Head-to-head record and past meetings

7

CV

Amad, Yoro, Mainoo updates: Man United injury, suspension news vs. Leicester

8

AY

Felix, Nkunku net brace as Chelsea run rampant in demolition of FC Noah

9

FN

Have Palmer, Rice made the cut? Lee Carsley's final England squad revealed!

10

HP


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .