Unbeaten Hertha Berlin to put historic start on the line against chasing Wolfsburg
Hertha Berlin's victory away at Kaiserslautern extended their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga 2 campaign to 10 games and also saw them record the best-ever start to a campaign in the league's history as a single division. But the capital club’s promotion credentials are to be thoroughly examined when they meet Wolfsburg in a top-of-the-table test on Saturday evening.
Hertha are writing Bundesliga 2 history in 2026/27. Their commanding 3-0 victory at Lautern’s Fritz-Walter-Stadion was almost evidence enough in itself as to their lofty ambitions this term, but in doing so, the Berliners also matched a long‑standing second-division record.
You have to go back as far as the 1978/79 season for the last time a team started a second-tier campaign with nine wins and one draw from their opening 10 fixtures, when Bayer Leverkusen managed the same feat in what was then Bundesliga 2 Nord.
Somewhat unsurprisingly, Die Werkself won promotion that term, which certainly bodes well for Stefan Leitl’s side, whose haul of 28 points after 10 games is the most by any team since Germany's second tier merged into a single division in the 1980s.
Watch: Kaiserslautern 0-3 Hertha - highlights
Another encouraging omen for the 49-year-old head coach was the manner in which his side brushed the Red Devils aside, especially considering the fact that prior to that victory, not only were Lautern unbeaten at home in four prior league outings, but Die Roten Teufel had not conceded a single goal in any of those four fixtures – amounting to almost seven hours (413 minutes) of water-tight defending.
Sebastian Grønning was the hero of the day, netting a brace either side of half-time with his first goals since Matchday 2, when he helped Hertha to a 4-1 downing of Heidenheim. Reflecting on his team’s performance at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion, the Danish forward shed light on how they managed to deliver such an impressive showing. “We were very disciplined but also brave. And if you take your chances on top of that, you win games like this,” he explained.
Discipline and bravery are undeniably key facets of the Old Lady’s game that have propped up their staggering consistency at the start of this term. This certainly rings true for Hertha left-back Mads Pedersen, who also provided an eye-catching display on Matchday 10 with two assists for his side.
The former Augsburg defender concurred with his teammate's post-match assessment, adding: “Right now, we simply trust in our strengths. After every goal, we kept pushing for another.”
Hertha have not only set records but, more importantly now, also strengthened their grip on first place. Their lead over second‑placed Wolfsburg stands at nine points. “We’ve now won nine of 10 games, so we’re definitely on the right track. Still, we're staying focused and calm,” detailed Grønning.
Staying focused may prove easier said than done, however, as although Hertha have a healthy lead over the Wolves, the Old Lady will be facing their former captain Fabian Reese on Matchday 11, who produced 55 goal involvements (30 goals, 25 assists) in 82 Bundesliga 2 outings across three seasons on the books in Berlin.
The winger has shown no signs of slowing since moving to the Volkswagen Arena in the summer either, leading the way for goal involvements with 11 (five goals, six assists), and shots taken (45). If anyone knows how to unlock Hertha's defence, it's Reese.
Nevertheless, buoyed by their historic start and keen to keep the wheel turning, the Berliners will be heading into this top-of-the-table clash at their Olympiastadion understandbly brimming with confidence.
