Hertha Berlin made the relatively short journey from the capital to Lower Saxony, to take on VfL Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen Arena. The reverse fixture earlier in the season saw Die Alte Dame run out 1-0 victors; with Saloman Kalou grabbing the solitary goal at the Olympiastadion.
Dieter Hecking's side were in great form heading into the match, with Die Wölfe picking up thirteen points from the last fifteen available; a run which included a 4-1 demolition of Bayern Munich and an incredible 5-4 victory against Bayer Leverkusen last time out. The side to face Pál Dárdai's men included Portuguese wide man Vieirinha, who was fresh from penning a contract extension with the side from Lower Saxony. The starting eleven also featured Bas Dost who had scored seven in his previous four Bundesliga games.
However, for Pál Dárdai and Hertha BSC fortunes haven't been as good; the capital club sat in 17th position heading into the evenings play. After the feel good factor had faded following the Hungarian's appointment, Hertha slumped to a 2-0 defeat at home to SC Freiburg; emphasizing the problems surrounding Die Alte Dame. There were two changes to the side defeated last time out; in came Fabian Lustenberger and Marcel Ndjeng. Marvin Plattenhardt and Ronny dropping out.
It was a lively start for the hosts, as the form book would suggest. Andre Schürrle and Vieirinha were pressing the Hertha back line at every given opportunity whilst forcing the midfield duo of Lustenberger and Skjelbred deeper and deeper; and it'd be the aforementioned duo that would play a key role in the deadlock being broken, only ten minutes in. The Portuguese winger found himself in acres of space, before lofting the ball towards Schürrle who flicked on, to the man of the moment Dost, who with his first touch beat Thomas Kraft in the Hertha goal.
Hertha's front two were seeing very little of the ball and it would out of nowhere, to say the least, that Die Alte Dame would equalise in the 31st minute. Sebastian Jung was caught napping and allowed Nico Schulz to easily ease the man signed from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer off the ball. The young German fullback played a pinpoint ball across the six yard box, which was met acrobatically by Julian Schieber, who drew the scores level. Much to the delight of the large travelling support.
Jung was replaced at the interval, as Hecking sent out a message that errors wouldn't be tolerated in his side. Maximillian Arnold replaced the fullback, Christian Träsch dropping back into the defence.
It was much improved Hertha at the beginning of the second half. Die Alte Dame were stifling the dangerous Wolfsburg trio of Schürrle, De Bruyne and Vieirinha who were bereft of any meaningful chances. The signs of disent amongst the home support were growing louder and louder the longer the scores remained level.
But similarly to how the visitors had equalised, Die Wölfe's second of the match would come in similar fashion. Luis Gustavo unleashed a rasping effort from 30 yards out; which crashed against the upright. But Dost had followed in and beat a helpless Kraft with the follow up; Jens Hegeler who was marking the Dutchman was caught ball watching allowing Dost to grab his 15th of the campaign.
Hertha now had to commit men forwards; which left room for Wolfsburg on the counter attack. Andre Schürrle had two good opportunities but on both occasions Kraft saved well.
That would be how it would at the Volkswagen Arena; Dieter Hecking's men far from their best but extending their lead in second place to ten points. However, for Pál Dárdai and Hertha BSC relegation now looks a real opportunity; Die Alte Dame remain in 17th place.
Up next for Die Wölfe is a trip to the Weserstadion to take on Viktor Skripnik's Werder Bremen, for Hertha Berlin a home match against FC Augsburg beckons.