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Hertha and Darmstadt have eyes on prizes

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Looking to get their top-four push back on track, Hertha Berlin welcome an SV Darmstadt 98 side fighting for Bundesliga survival on Saturday afternoon (kick-off: 15:30CEST/13:30GMT).

Matchday 16 rewind: Darmstadt 0-4 Hertha Berlin

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Hertha's defeat at Bayer 04 Leverkusen last time out was their third in a row, while Pal Dardai's side have not won since Matchday 27 and a 2-1 success against FC Ingolstadt 04. The capital-city club have since slipped out of the top four, and as a result know that a win here is crucial to keep alive the dream of playing in the UEFA Champions League next season.

For Darmstadt, by contrast, the sole aim for the remainder of this campaign is securing their top-flight status. Dirk Schuster's side have enjoyed a remarkable season and have not spent a single day in the bottom three, but defeat to local rivals and fellow strugglers Eintracht Frankfurt last time out means Die Lilien sit only a point clear of the drop zone.

Matchday 33 - match stats

Goals: 0-1 Ibisevic (12’), 0-2 Plattenhardt (26’), 0-3 Ibisevic (50’), 0-4 Kalou (77’)

Hertha Berlin continued to climb the Bundesliga standings courtesy of an impressive 4-0 win against SV Darmstadt 98 at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on Matchday 16.

    Hertha are winless in six and have lost their last four on the spin.Hertha occupy a place outside the top four for the first time in the Rückrunde.The Berliners cannot finish lower than seventh and are, therefore, assured of a place in Europe for the first time since 2009.Only two points separate Darmstadt from the relegation play-off place.Darmstadt surrendered a lead for the 12th time this season last time out (seven draws, five defeats) - a league high.Had the Lilies had won all 12 of the aforementioned games, they would have had 64 points and been guaranteed a third-place finish.Darmstadt striker Sandro Wagner has missed four of his eight penalty attempts in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2. On average, Wagner scored a goal every 20 Bundesliga games whilst at Hertha (two goals in 40 appearances); for Darmstadt, he averages a goal every three games (13 in 31).Hertha are the only team against whom Darmstadt have yet to score a single goal in the Bundesliga.

Possible line-ups

Hertha Berlin: Jarstein - Weiser, Brooks, Langkamp, Pekarik - Skjelbred, Stark - Haraguchi, Darida, Kalou - Ibisevic

Absentees: Allagui (light training), Plattenhardt (suspended)

Coach: Pal Dardai

Darmstadt: Mathenia - Jungwirth, Sulu, Caldirola, Holland - Gondorf, Niemeyer - Heller, Vrancic, Rausch - Wagner

Absentees: Rosenthal (Achilles), Rajkovic (thigh)

Coach: Dirk Schuster

History