Rencontre Latina
Related Articles
Mario Götze will be hoping to avoid a third straight defeat as Eintracht Frankfurt aim for a first Bundesliga victory of the season by traveling to the capital to face Hertha Berlin on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST).
Last
Hertha suffered a 3-1 loss to Union Berlin in the matchday one derby. Talisman Kevin-Prince Boateng will therefore be hoping for a positive result against his former side to offset fears that his final year will involve another relegation struggle. The addition of former Mainz player Jean-Paul Boetius will help, with the Dutch attacking midfielder reunited with Sandro Schwarz earlier this week. Newcomers Wilfried Kanga and Chidera Ejuke, meanwhile, will relish their chances of starting in attack after getting their first taste of the Bundesliga as substitutes last time out. Lucas Tousart is expected to return after serving a suspension. Marco Richter – who scored five goals last season – has thankfully returned to training this week after a recent scare with testicular cancer.
Frankfurt recovered from a 6-1 home hammering against Bayern Munich to produce an encouraging performance in their 2-0 UEFA Super Cup loss to Real Madrid on Wednesday. Götze is set to return to the starting XI after being used as a substitute for this latest game, while Christopher Lenz is set to continue on the left side in the wake of Filip Kostic’s departure. Summer signing Randal Kolo Muani can’t be too far from a start after two recent strong performances on the UEFA Europa League winners’ bench, while Lucas Alario is also an option following his midweek arrival.
Look: Götze under the tactical microscope
Match statistics
- Boateng made his Bundesliga debut against Frankfurt (August 2005), before winning the 2017/18 DFB Cup in his hometown of Berlin with the Eagles.
- There are 16 different nationalities on Hertha’s books and 17 in Frankfurt’s senior squad.
- Hertha have won more games (30) and scored more goals (117) against Frankfurt than any Bundesliga team they have faced. However, they have only won one of their last seven against the Europa League holders (D2, L4).
- Götze is undefeated in 10 career games with Hertha (W7, D3). He has two goals and three assists against the capital club.
- Kolo Muani is Frankfurt’s 270th different goalscorer in the Bundesliga – a league record.
- Frankfurt are winless in their last nine Bundesliga matches, dating back to March 13, 2022, when they beat Bochum 2-1. They beat Hertha 4-1 a week earlier.
>> Get Götze for your Fantasy team for 8.9 million!
Probable teams
Herta: Christensen – Kenny, Uremovic, Kempf, Plattenhardt (c) – Tousart, Sunjic, Serdar – Lukebakio, Kanga, Ejuke
Out: Alderete (adductor), Dong-jun Lee (knee), Ngankam (knee), Nsona (cruciate ligament)
Doubtful: –
Coach: Sandro Schwarz
Frankfurt: Trapp (c) – Touré, Tuta, N’Dicka – Knauff, Sow, Jakic, Lenz – Lindstrom, Götze – Borre
Out: Buta (knee), Onguene (thigh)
Doubtful: –
Coach: Olivier Glasner
