Hertha Berlin forward Dodi Lukebakio plans to surpass the 10 league goals he got last season after netting yet again against champions Bayern Munich this term.

Lukebakio shot to fame last November after scoring a memorable hat-trick for Fortuna Düsseldorf in a 3-3 draw in Munich, helping him earn a summer move to Hertha.

The Belgian proved a thorn in Bayern’s side once again on the opening weekend of the 2019/20 campaign, scoring on his league debut for Hertha in their 2-2 draw at the home of the record German champions.

Lukebakio is Hertha’s record signing, and hopes his latest goal against Bayern can kick-start his career in the capital. The 21-year-old is out to improve on his impressive statistics from last season, although he would not reveal exactly how many goals he expects to get this time around.

"I think we can do very good things,” he told bundesliga.com. "But my goals [target] I want to keep for me - it's important. Then we will see what happens… but I'm hungry to do more than I did last year."

Watch: See Lukebakio's goal against Bayern on Matchday 1 

Bettering last year’s achievements will be a challenge for Lukebakio, who still can’t quite believe he managed to fire three goals past Manuel Neuer in that incredible draw last season.

"Unbelievable, because it is one of the biggest clubs in the football world and the best in Germany, so it was special for me to score three goals against them," the former Anderlecht and Watford player said.

"On the other side, it’s motivation for me to do more and stay with both feet on the ground, because it’s not nothing. It’s something big, and I try to take this example to do more.

"I had hope, and I was not the only one. My teammates from Fortuna also had hope, so I saw how they fought, and for me it was like, 'OK, we came here to fight' and try to do our best, because everybody knows it is not easy to play in the Allianz Arena.

"We had the situation where I could make it 2-2 and then the game changed. For us it was like 'Oh, we can make it, guys' and in the end it was 3-3 and it was just crazy to do it in Bayern.

Watch: Relive Lukebakio's hat-trick heroics against Bayern last season

About the players

14

Dodi

Lukébakio Ngandoli

Hertha BSC

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"At the end, I was like 'was it me who scored these three goals?', and afterwards I received calls from my family and everybody. I knew that yes, I did it. I don’t know how to say it, but it’s like a motivation. The thing is I believe a lot in myself and with this performance, I showed everybody I want to do something big - to show these moments are special for me.

"I play football for this and so every day and every time I try to live in these moments a lot. Because from the beginning, since I was young, I dreamed of doing something special - so this was a big memory for me."

Lukebakio was much in demand at the end of last season, and he chose to continue playing in what he calls a "special" league. Crossing the country from west to east, he said new Hertha boss Ante Covic helped convince him that playing in Berlin would be the best next step.

"I thought it would be the best way for me to experience something else," Lukebakio said.

After taking over from Pal Dardai, Hertha Berlin head coach Ante Covic (l.) hopes to get the best out of Lukebakio (r.) - imago images / Schiffmann

"They showed a lot of interest in me and it’s a club with a lot of ambition. It’s a big club in Germany, so for me it was just the right way for me to improve."

Hertha have had a difficult start to the season - apart from that brilliant point at Bayern - but Lukebakio thinks he can cope with the extra expectation to help them move swiftly up the table.

"I'm just trying to work every day at training, so I can help the team," he said. "I don’t take on the pressure. I just try to give everything for the club, and afterwards it will come naturally."

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