Their opponents from Gelsenkirchen are level on points with VfB Stuttgart (16th) in 17th place after their brilliant 5-2 win against direct rivals Hertha BSC. While SCF have often struggled against lower-placed sides in previous years, they are still unbeaten against teams from the bottom half of the table this season.
Just three day after the Bundesliga restart away at VfL Bochum, Hertha faced their next challenge in the Bundesliga in the shape of VfL Wolfsburg. Sandro Schwarz made two changes to the side that started against Bochum, with Suat Serdar coming in for Jean-Paul Boëtius in midfield and Dodi Lukébakio replacing Derry Scherhant on the wing.
Hertha are currently in the midst of a very busy schedule. Their three games this week mean that Sandro Schwarz has to conduct six press conferences. The fifth instalment was on the agenda for the head coach on Thursday afternoon as attention now turns to Saturday’s derby against Union (28th January, 15:30 CET). The 44-year-old sees the clash as the perfect opportunity to turn things around. “It’s a huge opportunity for us to completely change the mood. A derby game is always full of emotion, regardless of the league table. We want to generate a different atmosphere within the club,” explained Schwarz. Fredi Bobic echoed these sentiments in Thursday’s presser: “We have to fully accept the situation. We can move a lot of things in a positive direction on Saturday but it’s down to us to do it. We will continue to instil this into the players right up until kick off.”
Sandro Schwarz and Fredi Bobic on…
RB Leipzig release sustainability report | Overview of strategy, aims and activities in 2022 | New waste separation system for the home game against Augsburg
Dimitri Lavalée has left 1. FSV Mainz 05 and joined Belgian Pro League side KV Mechelen....
The facts and figures as VfB travel to FC Augsburg at 20:30 CEST on Friday evening.
1. FC Magdeburg: Reimann, Lawrence (Sechelmann 70), Ceka (Sliskovic 81), El Hankouri, Krempicki, Müller, Bell Bell, Atik (Halbouni 70), Bitroff (Stappmann 81), Conde (Rieckmann 70), Ito (Scienza 70)
VfL Wolfsburg’s second friendly of the winter period also ended all square, with the Wolves drawing 2-2 at Premier League side Brentford in their final game of 2022. Luca Waldschmidt (13’) and Dzenan Pejcinovic (67’) got the goals for the Green-and-Whites at the London club’s new training complex, the Robert Rowan Performance Centre. After a brief Christmas break, starting on 23 December, the Wolves begin their preparations for the rest of the campaign on 2 January.
The result means Leverkusen, the last German team left in any European competition this season, have reached their first European semifinal in 21 years while ending Union’s fairytale maiden run in the Europa League.
Arsenal, and particularly Gabriel Jesus, had chances to win the match but they eventualy had to settle for their first draw of the season.
