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2. Bundesliga – Matchday 3
Hertha BSC Berlin 2 – 1 SpVgg Greuther Fürth
August 13, 2023 – Olympiastadion, Berlin
Hertha BSC Berlin extended their winning streak in the 2. Bundesliga to three straight matches after edging out a persistent Greuther Fürth side 2-1 in Berlin. Despite trailing early in the second half, Hertha responded with goals from Rasmus Højlund and Florian Wirtz to stay top of the table on goal difference.
Rotated Lineup Tested Early
With rotation in full effect, Coach Paquet gave Mathys Tel, Angelo Stiller, and Marc-Oliver Kempf starts in place of Højlund, Gavi, and Schlotterbeck. The changes were evident early on as Fürth started the brighter side, creating multiple clear chances in the opening half. Donnarumma had to come up big on two occasions to keep the match goalless heading into halftime, including a vital save off Sieb in the 31st.
Tel worked hard up front but struggled to link with the midfield under Fürth’s high press. The hosts lacked their usual fluency in buildup and went into the break lucky not to be behind.
Fürth Strike First, But Hertha Respond Ruthlessly
Just six minutes after the restart, Hertha paid for a sloppy midfield turnover. Angelo Stiller’s pass was intercepted, and Fürth capitalized quickly—Lemperle finishing coolly past Donnarumma to put the visitors 0-1 up.
That wake-up call triggered Hertha’s strongest spell. Højlund, brought on at halftime, made his impact in the 64th minute. Hakimi’s burst down the right was followed by a clever pass into Gnabry, who turned and slid the ball perfectly into the path of Højlund. The Dane took one touch, then buried it to equalize.
Fürth nearly retook the lead moments later, earning three corners in succession and forcing Donnarumma and Rice into desperate defending. But Hertha bent without breaking.
Then, in the 80th minute, Wirtz turned the game on its head. Picking the ball off a loose touch by Fürth’s right back, he drove centrally, skipped past a second defender, and curled a low shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-1. An individual moment of brilliance—just when Hertha needed it.
Key Performers & Tactical Notes
- Wirtz: Match-winner. Aggressive, sharp, and decisive in the final third.
- Højlund: Off the bench and on the scoresheet. Impactful and clinical.
- Hakimi: Constant outlet on the right, initiated the key equalizer.
- Donnarumma: Big saves in key moments—his best game of the season so far.
- Gavi (subbed in 59’) helped reestablish midfield control after a chaotic start to the second half.
Substitutions:
- Højlund ↩️ Tel (46’)
- Gavi ↩️ Kroos (59’)
- Schlotterbeck ↩️ Kempf (80’)
- Sánchez ↩️ Wirtz (86’)
Match Summary
This was Hertha’s toughest test yet. Fürth’s pressing and aggression rattled the hosts, and for a long stretch, it looked like the unbeaten run could end. But once again, the team found answers when it mattered—this time through the clarity and class of its top performers off the bench. It wasn’t the prettiest win, but it was perhaps the most important so far: proof that even on an off day, Hertha have the resilience and firepower to grind out results.
Next Fixture
📅 August 18, 2023
🏆 2. Bundesliga – Matchday 4
🆚 Eintracht Braunschweig (Away)
📍 Eintracht-Stadion
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