1. FC Union Berlin took the derby bragging rights with a 2-0 win over Hertha at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
Goals from Taiwo Awoniyi and Christopher Trimmel secured the victory for Urs Fischer's side who are unbeaten against Hertha at home in three Bundesliga encounters.
1. FC Union Berlin: Luthe; Knoche, Friedrich, Baumgartl; Trimmel, Gießelmann, Prömel, Haraguchi, Khedira; Awoniyi, Kruse
Max Kruse returned to the starting team having sat out action since the 3-1 loss in Rotterdam in October. The Union number 10 was reunited at the top of Union's attack next to top scorer Taiwo Awoniyi who has one derby goal to his name so far. The captain Christopher Trimmel was back into the side after his international exploits with Austria in World Cup qualifying last week. Under the lights at a full house at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, Urs Fischer's team started with an unplayable energy and purpose. Grischa Prömel shot wide after six minutes in the first warning sign for Alexander Schwolow and the visitors. Niko Gießelmann's pass was completely missed by Hertha defender Dardai and Taiwo Awoniyi proceeded to fire in the opener after eight minutes. It could have been two within two minutes as Prömel went beyond the forwards again; this time his shot came smashing off the crossbar. Kruse wiggled away from the blue and white jerseys in a crowded penalty box and was denied by Schwolow on 20 minutes. The home side bombarded the opposition defence with a header wide from Awoniyi on 25 minutes. The away team cracked on 30 minutes as a cleared corner kick was fired home tremedously by Trimmel from a tight angle outside the box. Dardai was in the right place to clear a header from Timo Baumgartl which was heading goalwards with three minutes left of the half. Andreas Luthe, making his 50th appearance for Union, had almost nothing to do until the whistle. Hertha's Petar Pekarik fumbled the ball over the line but after a delay of several minutes, referee Felix Byrch ruled the goal out for offside. Union finished the half with a two-goal advantage at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
As expected with the deficit, Pal Dardai's side came out with pressure to pull something back. Despite taking more of the ball, the Old Lady were unable to break the Union rearguard. After a slow start, Union picked things up and lifted the tempo in forward areas. Niko Gießelmann's powerful drive on 57 minutes was pushed away by Schwolow. The Hertha goalkeeper kept his side within some touching distance with two impressive stops inside the next minute. Kruse and Haraguchi combined almost to decisive effect, while Friedrich linked with Prömel who fired over. Haraguchi nearly scored against his former club following a great piece of individual play, but after cutting inside the shot was blocked. Gießelmann's next effort from distance on 62 minutes went over the bar. With Prömel on a yellow card, the coach switched the midfielder for Kevin Möhwald as the game started to become scrappy. Marvin Friedrich had looked threatening from corner kicks all afternoon and his header on 77 minutes was set to put Union three up but it deflected off a red shirt. A double change saw Haraguchi and Awoniyi leave the pitch on 80 minutes. Hertha substitute Belfodil shot from range but Luthe easily took control of the situation. Sheraldo Becker nearly had a brace in the final minutes after coming off the bench. He charged clear on 89 minutes but struck against the bar. After Schwolow had vacated his goal, Becker's shot was inches away from nestling in the corner. There was a small disruption after pyrotechnics landed on the field but it didn't stop the celebrations of the home support who celebrated the second derby victory over Hertha since promotion to the Bundesliga.
Union face city rivals Hertha
Match preview
On Saturday at 18:30, 1. FC Union Berlin host city neighbours Hertha for the third Bundesliga derby at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
Review — The last match:
The results in Stuttgart and Köln will have left 1. FC Union Berlin coach Urs Fischer frustrated given the late goals conceded. Union are in eighth — two points off Leverkusen in sixth — but remain comfortably on track to achieve another strong ranking in Germany's top division. Union concluded the last streak of matches with a 2-2 draw at 1. FC Köln late on Sunday evening. Anthony Modeste's scoring form continued as he opened the scoring for Steffen Baumgart's men in the seventh minute. That goal was cancelled out by an impressive solo-run from Julian Ryerson, the Norwegian slotting gracefully past Timo Horn. Genki Haraguchi set up Grischa Prömel before the break, while Taiwo Awoniyi passed up a glorious chance for 3-1. As Köln piled on the pressure in front of their home supporters, Florian Kainz's corner kick was met by Modeste to bag the home team a share of the points.
Hertha — Opposition Report:
The Old Lady have won two of their previous five Bundesliga matches before the pause in action. Victories at Eintracht Frankfurt and in Berlin against Borussia Mönchengladbach have taken Pal Dardai's men away from the Bundesliga trap door — Hertha are 13th with a four-point cushion to Augsburg in the play-off position. A 1-1 draw at home to Leverkusen rounded off the Bundesliga action for the Berliners before the internationals. Hertha's threat has been spread around the team this season when things have clicked. The 21-year-old Dutchman Jurgen Ekkelenkamp has made an impact since arriving from Ajax with two goals in the league — he is level at the top of the scoring charts next to Stevan Jovetic, Marco Richter and Suat Serdar. A trip to Köpenick is the start of an important period for Hertha and Dardai with a run of games against teams underneath them in the table. Up until Christmas, Hertha will play Augsburg, Stuttgart, Bielefeld and Mainz. The final match of 2021 for Hertha sees them host Borussia Dortmund at the Olympic Stadium.
Hertha — The coach's view:
Urs Fischer: "When you look at the last three or four games, Hertha are very compact and have good organisation. They are dangerous after winning it back, quick in transitions. It could be a game of small margins .... In the end, it’s a tough game. Hertha are playing very well. We need to take care of the challenge. We have to show our face on the pitch, that’s a pre-requisite. The game starts at zero. We need a good performance to have a chance."
Personnel:
Union are without Kevin Behrens who returned a positive test during the international break. The striker is now in home quarantine. Paul Jaeckel has picked up an illness and is missing for the weekend. Urs Fischer confirmed that all players returned from the national team matches in good health.
Service:
Information for all supporters attending can be found here.
The match will take place under 2G rules — the full health and safety regulations are here.
Information on control bands and fast access can be found here.
The club's official secondary ticket market is open here.
