Pinkie Brown
Wir Sind das Volk
West meets East for the first time in Bundesliga at the Olympic Stadium tonight. Union sit one place and a point behind Hertha in Bundesliga. Both have previously met in Bundesliga 2, in two seasons between 2010 and 2013. Union are ahead in the bragging rights with two wins and two draws in the five meetings since 2010. After a feisty affair both on and especially off the pitch last November, tonight will sadly be a tepid atmosphere. It's been suggested, mainly in the eastern half of the city, Hertha won't be too disturbed by playing with no fans as they are used to playing in a half empty stadium at home. Indeed, the place only ever sold out when Bayern or Dortmund were in town and the place was full of day trippers in either yellow or red shirts.
Hertha recorded a 3-0 victory in coach Bruno Labbadia’s first game in charge last week away at Hoffenheim. Labbadia is their fifth coach in a year. Others have included Jurgen Klinsmann who made himself a laughing stock in Germany, boasting when he joined, Hertha were a 'big city club' and they could go on to be successful in the champions league blah blah blah. He lasted 76 days in the job, leaving under a cloud with counter accusations & insults between him and the Hertha general manager, keeping the football world here entertained for a few weeks. The spat still occasionally rears its head. Usually from Kilinsmann to anyone who will listen to him.
Union are enjoying a decent start to life in Bundesliga and baring a choke of monumental proportions, should be good for another year. Their strength is in the intimidating atmosphere of the Alten Forsterei where the likes of Dortmund and Mönchengladbach have both come unstuck this season. The away record includes wins at Eintract, Bremen, and Mainz plus draws at Paderborn and Augsburg. Last week they returned to action at home with a 0-2 loss to Bayern Munich. Not a disaster considering the gulf in class. Indeed, Union were unlucky not to nick a point in the first fixture in Munich.
Tonight? I'm going for the city to stay red and Union to remain 'stadtmeister.' (I hope) I'll put my neck on the block. 2-1 Union.
Hertha recorded a 3-0 victory in coach Bruno Labbadia’s first game in charge last week away at Hoffenheim. Labbadia is their fifth coach in a year. Others have included Jurgen Klinsmann who made himself a laughing stock in Germany, boasting when he joined, Hertha were a 'big city club' and they could go on to be successful in the champions league blah blah blah. He lasted 76 days in the job, leaving under a cloud with counter accusations & insults between him and the Hertha general manager, keeping the football world here entertained for a few weeks. The spat still occasionally rears its head. Usually from Kilinsmann to anyone who will listen to him.
Union are enjoying a decent start to life in Bundesliga and baring a choke of monumental proportions, should be good for another year. Their strength is in the intimidating atmosphere of the Alten Forsterei where the likes of Dortmund and Mönchengladbach have both come unstuck this season. The away record includes wins at Eintract, Bremen, and Mainz plus draws at Paderborn and Augsburg. Last week they returned to action at home with a 0-2 loss to Bayern Munich. Not a disaster considering the gulf in class. Indeed, Union were unlucky not to nick a point in the first fixture in Munich.
Tonight? I'm going for the city to stay red and Union to remain 'stadtmeister.' (I hope) I'll put my neck on the block. 2-1 Union.
