THANK YOU
That's all from me, thank you for following tonight's coverage and be sure to check back in with VAVEL UK throughout the weekend for all the Bundesliga action!
UNION WORRIES CONTINUE
The defeat continues Union's woeful run in the Bundesliga, and if their struggles continue they could find themselves flirting with the dreaded drop zone...
HERTHA STARTING TO FIND THEIR FEET
A fantastic second half showing from The Old Lady gives Bruno Labbadia a first home game to remember. The change in management seems to have done Hertha the world of good, as a talented pool of players seem to be finally clicking.
FULL TIME: HERTHA BERLIN 4-0 UNION BERLIN
It's all over at the Olympiastadion! A convincing second half display from the hosts gives them a superb win over their city rivals!
88' It seems that Union are just waiting for the referee's final whistle as Hertha look to see out the last couple of minutes, happily keeping possession.
HERTHA BERLIN SUBSTITUTES
80' Vladimir Darida and Per Skejelbred are replaced by youngsters Arne Maier and Lazar Samardzic, the latter making his first-team debut!
GOAL! HERTHA BERLIN (4)-0 UNION BERLIN - DEDRYK BOYATA
77' ITS FOUR! Boyata meets Plattenhardt's corner and heads home to secure all three points!
HERTHA BERLIN SUBSTITUTES
74' Double change as goal scorers, Vedad Ibisevic and Dodi Lukebakio are replaced by Javairo Dilrosun and Krzysztof Piatek.
UNION BERLIN SUBSTITUTE
71' It's a swap of the Sebastian's as Andersson is replaced by Polter.
YELLOW CARD - MARKO GRUJIC
66' Grujic is booked for a clumsy challenge on Reichel.
HERTHA BERLIN SUBSTITUTE
65' Matheus Cunha is replaced my Maximilian Mittelstadt.
UNION BERLIN SUBSTITUTES
63' Double change for Union as Julian Ryerson and Yunus Malli replace Ken Reichel and Marius Bulter.
GOAL! HERTHA BERLIN (3)-0 UNION BERLIN - MATHEUS CUNHA
61' IT'S THREE! Ibisevic sets up Cunha on the edge of the box who curls one into the bottom corner for his fourth goal in four games!
UNION BERLIN SUBSTITUTE
56' Marcus Ingvartsen is replaced by Anthony Ujah.
54' And just like that Hertha are two in front! It's a long way back for Union now...
GOAL! HERTHA BERLIN (2)-0 UNION BERLIN - DODI LUKEBAKIO
52' WE HAVE ANOTHER! Straight from the kick off Hertha get the ball back and play in Lukebakio,who rounds the keeper and slots into the empty net for his sixth league goal of the season!
GOAL! HERTHA BERLIN (1)-0 - VEDAD IBISEVIC
51' GOOOOALLL! IBISEVIC TRADEMARK! A superb ball from the left is met by the Bosnian and he powers a header home top open the scoring!
49' Two corners in quick succession for Union but both come to nothing.
CHANCE!
47' Great chance for the hosts as Lukebakio breaks through and has an effort from close range well saved, his follow effort then flies way over the bar!
SECOND HALF: HERTHA BERLIN 0-0 UNION BERLIN
46' Union get the second half underway!
HALF TIME: HERTHA BERLIN 0-0 UNION BERLIN
The referee blows for half time and the two sides go in all-square at the break!
44' It looks like it's going to be another goalless first half for Hertha at home. The Old Lady have scored just one first half goal in their last seven games at the Olympiastadion.
CHANCE!
44' CLOSE! Andrich's resulting free kick flies just over the bar!
YELLOW CARD - DODI LUKEBAKIO
42' Lukebakio finds himself in the book for a late challenge on the edge of his own box.
CHANCE!
38' Cunha again proving the danger man for Hertha as he cuts inside and hits his effort straight at Gikiewicz from close range!
35' Tremmel delivers a trademark free kick into the Hertha box but it evades everyone and goes out for a goal kick.
CHANCE!
26' Another great chance for the hosts as Ibisevic's low ball found Cunha whose flick at the front post was well saved by Gikiewicz!
The following corner finds the head of Grujic, however his header flies wide.
20' Grujic finds space 35 yards from goal but hits his effort well over the bar.
CHANCE!
17' A superb flick on from Ibisevic sets free Lukebakio free however is one-on-one effort from 10 yards is well saved by Gikiewicz
15' First corner of the evening falls the way of Union however Tremmel's delivery comes to nothing.
12' It's the home side who are dominating the possession in the early stages, but no clear opening at either end so far...
YELLOW CARD - MICHAEL PARENSEN
10' Michael Parensen becomes the first man to enter the referee's book.
KICK OFF: HERTHA BERLIN 0-0 UNION BERLIN
1' Hertha get the game under way!
We will remember them
The players have their black armbands on and are about to conduct a minute's silence to remember all those that have been lost in the pandemic.
Friday night is a Hertha night!
5 - No other team played as often on a Friday evening in this #Bundesliga season and was never defeated as @HerthaBSC_EN (5 times). TGIF. #BSCFCU pic.twitter.com/ao39hTyh3M
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) May 22, 2020
A historic night for Berlin
It's a huge night for football in Berlin as a once divided City comes together at the historic Olympiastadion for the first time in Bundesliga history.
Make sure you stay tuned and follow all the action here on VAVEL UK!
Back to where it all began...
— Hertha Berlin (@HerthaBSC_EN) May 22, 2020
Two sides of a once divided city come together once more at the Olympiastadion 🏟️
A homecoming for the ages.#BSCFCU #hahohe pic.twitter.com/knixaTh8cR
Team News
Just the one change for the hosts from their 3-0 win away at Hoffenheim last time out as Vladimir Darida comes in for Maximilian Mittelstadt.
For the visitors, it is four changes from their 2-0 defeat at home to Bayern Munich last week as Neven Subotic, Keven Schlotterbeck, Christopher Lens and Anthony Ujah are replaced by Marvin Friedrich, Michael Parensen, Ken Reichel and top scorer, Sebastian Andersson.
Union Berlin Starting XI
Gikiewicz, Friedrich, Parensen, Hubner, Reichel, Trimmel, Promel, Andrich, Bulter, Ingvartsen, Andersson
Subs: Nicolas, Subotic, Ryerson, Polter, Mees, Malli, Kroos, Gentner, Ujah
Hertha Berlin Starting XI:
Jarstein, Pekarik, Boyata, Skejlbred, Darida, Grujic, Plattenhardt, Torunarigha, Cunha, Lukebakio, Ibisevic
Subs: Smarsch, Piatek, Klunter, Dilrosun, Mittelstadt, Maier, Dardai, Ngankam, Samardzic
How to watch and follow Hertha Berlin vs Union Berlin live stream
If you want to watch the game on TV: BT Sport 1
If you want to stream the game: BT Sport App
If you want to follow online: VAVEL UK, of course!
Union Berlin Team News
For Union, the absentee list is a little longer with Sheraldo Becker, Akaki Gogia and Yunus Malli all ruled out through injury, and Christopher Lenz and Kevin Schkotterbeck missing through suspension.
Hertha Berlin Team News:
Bruno Labbadia heads into his first home game as Hertha boss with a near full squad, with Salomon Kalou and Karim Rekik the only two key expected absentees.
Union Berlin One-To-Watch: Christopher Trimmel
Union skipper, Christian Trimmel has proved pivotal in his side's maiden season in Germany's top flight, providing seven assists from set-pieces this season, a European best one ahead of Liverpool full-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold.
If the Iron Ones are hoping to do the derby-double over their neighbours, one man they will be looking to is Captain, Christian.
Hertha Berlin One-To-Watch: Matheus Cunha
With three goals in his last three starts for The Old Lady, Matheus Cunha could well be the man to strike his side's revenge over their city rivals. After an incredible solo goal in last week's 3-0 win over Hoffenheim, their is no doubt the Brazilian is in red-hot form going into this one.
Recent Form
Whilst it is hard to regard the form of both sides as 'recent' due to the football break, the hosts head into the clash with just one defeat in their last five, with two draws and two wins also coming in that time.
The visitors however go into Friday's derby on the back of a recent struggle that has seen them pick up just one win in their last five games, including three defeats in their last three outings.
Last time out
It was a first game to remember for Hertha boss, Bruno Labbadia last week as the return of the Bundesliga saw The Old Lady run out 3-0 winners away at Hoffenheim.
However, for Union it was a case of lock down hangover, as they were beaten 2-0 at home by league leaders, Bayern Munich.
Last time they met
The last time these two rivals locked horns came in November as Union edged the first ever Bundesliga derby between the two 1-0, thanks to a late Sebastian Polter penalty.
There is no doubt Hertha will be out for revenge as they look to continue their unbeaten home run against their City neighbours (P2, W1, D1).
All eyes on Berlin
The eyes of everyone within the footballing world will be locked on the Olympiastadion on Friday night as Berlin's two heavyweight's face off for only the second time in Bundesliga history.
WELCOME!
Welcome to VAVEL UK's live text commentary of Hertha Berlin vs Union Berlin on match day 27 of the Bundesliga campaign.
My name is Josh Lees and I'll be providing you live updates both pre-match and in-game, stay tuned!