Hertha Berlin made short work of promoted Nuremberg at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday, with Vedad Ibisevic scoring to separate the sides on day in which the capital side could have won by more.

Hertha Berlin 1-0 Nuremberg

Goals: 1-0 Ibisevic (27’)

Hertha dominated possession against their promoted visitors and could have taken the lead through Valentino Lazaro, but the young Austria star fired over following an intricate passing move on the edge of the box. Lazaro made amends minutes later, though, dancing past Tim Leibold before squaring for Vedad Ibesivic, who was left with a simple finish. Robert Bauer could have reduced the arrears at the end of the half, but the on-loan Werder Bremen right-back headed wide with the goal at his mercy and the hosts took a deserved 1-0 lead into the interval.

Nuremberg’s new Japanese forward Yuya Kubo came close to a debut goal after dancing clear of two Hertha markers, but Rune Jarstein proved equal to his attempt. Nuremberg nearly stole a share of the points inside the final 10 minutes after Karim Rekik’s handball in the home box, but Jarstein saved Mickael Ishak’s subsequent penalty and Pal Dardai’s men held on for all three points.

Match stats

Only Claudio Pizarro (192) and Robert Lewandowski (182) have scored more Bundesliga goals than Ibisevic (111) among active foreign-born players in the German top flight.This was Hertha’s first win in seven Bundesliga games against Nuremberg. Their last win over Der Club came back in May 2008.Salomon Kalou topped the Hertha scoring charts in the Bundesliga last season with 12 goals.Der Club are back in the Bundesliga after four seasons in the second division.Nuremberg-born Timothy Tillman, who is eligible to play for the USA, registered six goals and seven assists for the Bayern reserves last season.Nuremberg captain Behrens led by example last season, playing every minute in Bundesliga 2 and scoring a team-high 14 goals to help his side win promotion.

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Line-ups

Hertha: Jarstein – Rekik, Stark, Torunarigha, Plattenhardt – Mittelstädt (Jastrzembski 72’), Meier – Duda, Lazaro, Kalou (Palk. Dardai 88’) – Ibisevic (c) (Grujic 88’)
Unused subs: Kraft, Klünter, Köpke, Lustenberger
Absentees: Darida (knee), Gersbeck (knee ligament), Selke (collapsed lung)
Coach: Pal Dardai 

Nuremberg: Bredlow – Bauer (Erras 89’), Mühl Margreitter, Leibold – Behrens (Knöll 81’), Petrak – Salli (Palacios 67’), Ishak, Kubo
Unused subs: Mathenia, Löwen, Jäger, Tillman
Absentees: Ewerton (ankle)
Coach: Michael Köllner

As it happened

Click here for the Hertha Berlin vs. Nuremberg Match Centre!