Hertha Berlin vs. Hamburg: relegation play-off first leg probable teams, match stats and LIVE blog!

Latest

Boateng, 35, has seen a lot over his lengthy career, including cup finals in Germany and Italy, but now he has to help boyhood club Hertha avoid the disaster of the drop to Bundesliga 2. The veteran midfielder has become more of a regular in the closing weeks of the season, but didn't start the 2-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 34 that sealed their play-off fate. Coach Felix Magath, who won three Bundesliga titles and the European Cup as a player for HSV, will need to decide how he wants to utilise Boateng's experience over these two legs. The 68-year-old was insistent before the game in Dortmund that he would not change his goalkeeper, but his hand may be forced after Marcel Lotka took a knock to the head in that match. With original first-choice Alexander Schwolow not having played for over a month due to injury, and former No.1 Rune Jarstein also out long term, Oliver Christensen could be thrust into the breach for this pivotal first leg.

As is often the case, the Bundesliga 2 team comes into the play-off on a high - and rightly so in Hamburg's case. They won their last five league games to come from a seemingly hopeless position in sixth to claim third on goal difference ahead of Darmstadt thanks to a 3-2 victory at Hansa Rostock on the final day. Robert Glatzel made it five goals during that run as he scored the crucial equaliser for 1-1 in Rostock as HSV came from behind and ended their unfortunate run of fourth-placed finishes in the three seasons since their Bundesliga relegation in 2018. Once the only ever-present club in the Bundesliga until that point, Die Rothosen now have their best chance at that long-desired return. The only players unavailable to coach Tim Walter are left-back Tim Leibold and midfielder Anssi Suhonen as they look to join Schalke and Werder Bremen back in the big time.

Match stats

Stevan Jovetic is Hertha's top scorer with just six goals. Vladimir Darida and Maximilian Mittelstädt have the most assists with five each.

The Old Lady narrowly edge the head-to-head record with 33 victories to 30 (plus 13 draws), but have won eight of the last 10 encounters.

Hertha are one of only six Bundesliga clubs to go down via the play-off, losing 4-3 on aggregate to Fortuna Düsseldorf in their only previous appearance in 2011/12.

Glatzel (22 goals) and Sonny Kittel (12 assists) were both second in the respective Bundesliga 2 scoring and provider charts this season.

Hamburg are in the play-offs for the third time, but the first as a Bundesliga 2 club. They stayed up on away goals in 2013/14 and in extra-time the following season.

The Bundesliga club has won the play-off in 17 out of 23 renditions, including eight of the last nine years.

Probable teams

Hertha: Christensen - Pekarik, Boyata (c), Kempf, Plattenhardt - Tousart, Ascacibar - Ekkelenkamp, Serdar, Mittelstädt - Jovetic

Out: Jarstein (knee), Klünter (shoulder), Lee (ankle), Schwolow (thigh), Selke (muscular)

Doubtful: Dardai (hip), Gechter (cold), Lotka (concussion), Stark (cold)

Coach: Felix Magath

Hamburg: Heuer Fernandes - Heyer, Vuskovic, Schonlau (c), Muheim - Reis, Meffert, Kittel - Jatta, Glatzel, Vagnoman

Out: Leibold (knee), Suhonen (broken leg)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Tim Walter

About the clubs Hamburger SV

Volksparkstadion

Hertha Berlin

Olympiastadion

Share