The standout midweek fixture on matchday four in the Bundesliga sees record champions Bayern München welcome Hertha BSC at 20:00 CEST this evening. Like Bayern, the Berliners have won all three of their league games so far – but one of them at least must finally drop points tonight. DFB.de checks the facts ahead of the game.
THE OUTLOOK: With three wins from three games, champions Bayern have made the perfect start to the new season. Despite stuttering to a 3-1 victory over Ingolstadt last time out, the atmosphere in Munich is still very positive. They will not want to let Hertha do anything to change that, but a stern test awaits the hosts. The Berliners have also picked up nine points from their opening three matches, which represents the club’s best ever start to a Bundesliga season.
HEAD TO HEAD: It is a clash with a long history, as the two teams have previously met in 68 games in all competitions. Bayern hold a clear advantage in the head-to-head record, having won 40 of those encounters compared with Hertha’s eleven. There have been 17 draws. Since the last time Hertha defeated Bayern on their own Munich turf in 1977, they have only managed to pick up four draws from 21 fixtures. In the last 15 encounters they have earned just one point, back in August 2004, with current Hertha head coach Pal Dardai featuring as a player for the club from the capital in a 1-1 draw. A look at the more recent clashes is interesting: Bayern have emerged victorious from all of the last ten, scoring 30 and conceding just six. Hertha have not managed a goal against the champions in their last four meetings.
THE LAST AWAY WIN: Gerhard Grau and Bernd Gersdorff were the goalscorers in Hertha’s last win in Munich, a 2-0 victory on 29th October 1977. Altogether, Hertha have only claimed three wins in the Bavarian capital.
THE PERSONNEL: Berlin will be without midfielder Vladimir Darida, after the Czech international suffered ankle ligament damage in Sunday’s win over Schalke. Dardai rued his absence, acknowledging that “without Vladi our game will have to change, but we have a good squad and good options who can fill that role. In football there are always miracles.” For Bayern, Thomas Müller should return to the fold after time out with a gastrointestinal infection, and Mats Hummels, Philipp Lahm and David Alaba will all be a part of the squad. Jerome Boateng also made a brief appearance in Saturday’s win over Ingolstadt and is ready for more game time, with Bayern head coach Carlo Ancelotti calling him a guarantee for the starting eleven. Hummels is expected to start the game from the bench.
WORDS FROM THE COACHES: Ancelotti was not impressed with his side on Saturday, despite their winning 3-1, stating “we will improve, we have not played well” in the aftermath of the game. The Italian admitted that Hertha’s strong start to the season has taken him by surprise somewhat, saying “Hertha have played very well. They are a compact side with great spirit. It will be difficult for us, we have to give 100%.” In Berlin, Dardai is staying stubborn, but not without humour. I have already discussed our tactics with our bus driver. We agreed that he drives in front of the goal and stays there. We want to come away from this game still unbeaten.”
THE REFEREE: Marko Fritz, originally from Korb, will be taking charge of the game in Munich. He managed this fixture last season in the game at the Olympiastadion, overseeing a 2-0 Bayern win. Bayern have won 13 of the 15 games of theirs he has officiated, while Hertha have lost 9 of the 15 for which he has been their referee.