Hertha Berlin go four unbeaten under Jürgen Klinsmann with draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach
Hertha Berlin continued their recent revival under Jürgen Klinsmann by extending their unbeaten run for four games with a 0-0 draw at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Matchday 17.
Hertha Berlin 0-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach
After a tight opening 20 minutes, Hertha looked dangerous on the counter-attack with Davie Selke bearing down on goal only to be hauled down mid-stride. From the ensuing free-kick, Eduard Löwen, the only new face in the side, brought everyone out of their seat with a rocket of a shot that careened off the crossbar. Gladbach had their own chance to take the lead later in the half after some good work got the ball to striker Marcus Thuram. The forward steadied himself and fired the ball through the Hertha defensive screen, only to see goalkeeper Rune Jarstein equal to the shot. The teams returned to the dressing rooms with the scores level.
After the break, the Foals came out with their intentions clear on finding the opening goal. A flowing move that ended with a Tony Jantschke cross flashing just out of the reach of Thuram started a bright spell for Marco Rose's side, with Alassane Plea and Breel Embolo forcing saves from Jarstein in the Hertha goal. The hosts appeared content to sit back, soak up pressure, and attempt to strike on the counter, with Jarstein the key man in that strategy, called on on several occasions to deny Gladbach an opener. Yann Sommer went largely untested as both sides failed to find a goal before their 2019 Bundesliga calendars were completed.
Match stats
- Klinsmann, who was in charge of Bayern Munich between Matchdays 1-29 of the 2008/09 campaign, oversaw his 34th match as a Bundesliga coach. His record reads: W18, D8, L8.
- The Hertha boss gave Gladbach's Fabian Johnson his USMNT debut in November 2011, and took the Munich-born wide player to the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
- Dodi Lukebakio is Hertha's four-goal top scorer so far this season.
- Gladbach were league leaders at the halfway stage in four of their five Bundesliga title-winning seasons.
- Only Leipzig (48), Bayern (46) and Borussia Dortmund (41) have scored more goals than Gladbach after 17 matches.
- Thuram is four games without a goal. Equalling his longest goalless run since going the first four matches of his Bundesliga career before breaking his duck with a brace against Fortuna Düsseldorf on Matchday 5.
Watch: Sommer: “We’ve been good but we want more”
Line-ups
Hertha: Jarstein - Klünter, Boyata, Rekik, Plattenhardt - Skjelbred, Löwen - Lukebakio (Wolf 70'), Darida, Dilrosun - Selke (Köpke 69')
Unused subs: Smarsch, Stark, Kalou, Mittelstädt, Ibisevic, Maier, Torunarigha
Out: Grujic (suspended), Kraft (shoulder)
Coach: Jürgen Klinsmann
Gladbach: Sommer (c) - Jantschke (Beyer 71'), Ginter, Elvedi, Bensebaini - Neuhaus (Stindl 82'), Kramer, Zakaria - Plea, Embolo (Herrmann 87'), Thuram
Unused subs: Sippel, Strobl, Raffael, Wendt, Benes, Hofmann
Out: Poulsen (ankle), Lainer (unspecified)
Coach: Marco Rose
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