Our next opponents: Hertha looking for first win in 2018

Position

While the world of German politics in Berlin appears to be active around the clock at the moment, life is rather more relaxed at the Olympic Stadium. The club from the capital, regularly in the headlines in the papers a few years ago, appears to have settled down. The  adventure of a Europa League campaign, earned by Pal Dárdai's team finishing sixth last season, ended in December with just one win in six games against Athletic Bilbao, Östersund and Luhansk. A return that would have caused consternation in the global city of Berlin a few years ago. However, the management have learned from earlier mistakes. Even though Hertha are waiting for the first win in 2018 in four games, the CEO Michael Preetz and head coach Dárdai are not unduly concerned. With 27 points to date, Hertha are a comfortable seven points ahead of the drop zone. And the Berliners are just four points from seventh place that could be enough to play in Europe again next season. So there's everything still to play for and no reason to panic.

personnel

The confidence shown by the management in the coach and the team was also demonstrated by the transfer activity in January. The club from the capital did not sign any new players although they did let Sebastian Langkamp, Valentin Stocker and Genki Haraguchi  move on although they had been regular first team players in the past. The potential on the pitch, diminished by the departure of Stocker and Haraguchi, is currently being compensated for by the improvement in form shown by Valentino Lazaro (pictured above with coach Pal Dardai). The loanee from RB Salzburg is finding his feet after a difficult start to the season and in last Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Hoffenheim he was involved in nearly all of the Hertha attacks. In addition to defensive stalwart Langkamp, Hertha have also been without the services of three other key players at the back. Defender Karim Rekik, right back Mitchell Weiser and first-choice keeper Rune Jarstein have all been sidelined with muscle injuries. While Rekik is in rehab training, Weiser and Jarstein may be set to return at the BayArena.

problems

In spite of the players missing in defence, it is the attack that is currently causing a headache. In the four games in the second half of the season so far, Hertha have only scored twice and have also found it difficult to create goalscoring opportunities in open play. Only Lazaro is hitting the right notes up front. The Slovakia international Ondrej Duda, signed last year to bolster the attack, has been hampered by injuries and unable to meet expectations up to now. The Australian Mathew Leckie got off to a flying start this season (four goals in five games) but has been unable to maintain that form. It's no surprise the top Hertha goalscorer is Salomon Kalou (eight goals), mostly playing on the left wing. The two regular central strikers Vedad Ibisevic (5) and Davie Selke (4) are very talented players in the box but are not receiving enough service.

potential

The biggest potential for the Berlin club is undoubtedly in their youth development. The academy at Hertha has been amongst the leaders for years and has seen several players coming through the ranks including the Boateng brothers and, recently, John Anthony Brooks, who moved on to Wolfsburg last summer bringing a sizeable transfer fee to the coffers of 'Old Lady'. The departure of three established players over the winter break and no new players being signed sends a message to the many young players in the current Hertha squad as Preetz confirmed. "We have young players as back-ups for every position," said the former striker in an interview with the 'kicker' sports journal. As long as these youngsters, such as the 20-year-old central defender Jordan Torunarigha, continue to perform and improve then Hertha are set up to be a top-flight club into the future.

prediction

In an very evenly-balanced Bundesliga this term, Hertha Berlin are what would be described as average so far this season. Ahead of the game against the Werkself, Hertha have recorded as many defeats as victories and scored and conceded the same number of goals. Looking at the table, everything points to a quiet time up to spring for Hertha – and many of their supporters will probably be happy with that.