There are still two matchdays left before the season reaches the halfway point, but the winter break is nevertheless a good time to take a comparative look at some statistics from the season. One thing can be said from a VfL point of view: when it comes to running in particular, Niko Kovac’s men boast strong numbers.

Newcastle legend Shearer has liked what he has seen so far but remains realistic when it comes to their top four chances this season.

Boris Rupert reporting from London

Plea absent from training, Kramer and Borges Sanches return The Foals began preparations for Sunday’s home...

Werder lost 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim on Sunday evening. Werder overcame a slow start and began to grow into the game, combining well down the right flank. The final 15 minutes of the first half was a real purple patch for SVW, Ducksch had several chances to give us the lead, but was denied by Baumann. Hoffenheim then scored twice in quick succession after the break with goals from Kramarić (50′) and Baumgartner (52′). Werder only found the net towards the end through substitute Pieper (76’), and there were cheers at the wohninvest WESERSTADION as the referee awarded a penalty in the last minute to Werder, but those cheers were silenced following a VAR check which found an offside in the build-up. 

What a selfless decision! VfL fan Marlon was stood on the Ostkurve during the home game...

FC Augsburg will be without Ermedin Demirović for three league matches because of “serious foul play”. The Bosnia-Herzegovina international was shown a red card by referee Daniel Schlager in the 1-1 draw against FC Schalke 04 after accidentally catching his opponent in the face with a high boot.

Here are our talking points from the game:

There were four changes to the Hertha starting eleven for the derby against 1. FC Union. Sandro Schwarz brought Marvin Plattenhardt, Filip Uremović, Peter Pekarík and Jean-Paul Boëtius into the side for the final game of this double gameweek. Agustín Rogel (suspension) and Jonjoe Kenny (concussion) missed out entirely, while Maximilian Mittelstädt and Ivan Šunjić dropped to the bench. Florian  Niederlechner was also on the benchfor the first time. Pekarík made his first start of the season and it was Uremović’s first start since October. Former Hertha player Genki Haraguchi was on the bench for the visitors.

The substitutes: Philipp, Bičakčić, Dabbur, Angeliño, Rudy, Delaney, Becker, Bischof, Tohumcu