Werkself hit Hertha for six

Once again, Korkut did not have a full squad available. The Bayer 04 coach, whose contract runs out at the end of the season, had to make do without Lars Bender (ankle), Kevin Volland (hamstring) plus Ömer Toprak and Kevin Kampl (both ankle problems). That meant he fielded the same starting eleven as in last weekend's 2-2 derby draw against FC Köln.

Chicharito nets early goal

The Werkself made it clear from the start that they wanted to win the prestigious encounter with the team from Berlin. Bayer 04 converted the first chance to take the lead. Julian Brandt put Chicharito through with his initial shot hitting the right-hand post before he turned the rebound into the back of the net to open the scoring on five minutes

The match developed into an entertaining affair. Hertha looked unimpressed by conceding the first goal and went on to show why they are in the top third of the table and why they will represent Germany on the European stage next season. However, Hertha were unable to convert their chances. Mitchell Weiser miss the chance to equalise with his foot on nine minutes and his head on 22 minutes

Havertz scores a brace

Driven on by the impressive Charles Aránguiz, Bayer 04 went on to produce a passing game that unfortunately has not been seen by the fans since the start of the season. The Werkself created chances: Julian Brandt (14', 23') and Julian Baumgartlinger (29') were unable to increase the lead. However, a delightful one-two with Chicharito ended with Kai Havertz slotting the ball away with aplomb to make it 2-0 on 31 minutes. Just before half-time, Brandt was able to rob the Hertha defender John Brooks of the ball on the left flank before Aránguiz put him through to the byline. The Germany international centred the habits to turn the ball into the net to give him his first brace in the Bundesliga and put Bayer 043-0 up on 45 minutes. The A-level student is second in the list of the youngest players to score a double in the Bundesliga.

At half-time, the Hertha coach Pal Dardai reacted to the defensive failings by bringing on Sebastien Langkamp and Per Skjelbred in place of Brooks and Allen. Hertha looked much more solid in defence and they succeeded in putting increasing pressure and the Werkself. The Hertha strikers Solomon Kalou (48') and Vedad Ibisevic (51', 54') were unable to convert their chances.

Kießling scores penalty

With 63 minutes on the clock, Hertha's Vladimir Darida brought down Aránguiz in the box.. Referee Deniz Aytekin correctly pointed to the spot. The revived Stefan Kießling placed the ball on the spot and he went on to secure a 4-0 lead with his fourth goal of the season. On 63 minutes, Hertha's Vladimir Darida was too strong in the tackle on Aránguiz us in his own box. Referee Deniz Aytekin correctly awarded a penalty. The reinviigorated Stefan Kießling stepped up to put Bayer 04 4-0 up.

The fixture increasingly lost its shape after Kießling's penalty with both sides making mistakes. The agile Weiser, with a suspicion of offside, exploited one of them to score a consolation goal for Hertha. The Werkself were lucky four minutes later when Tin Jedvaj was in the right spot to head to clear a Kalou header off the line on 75 minutes.

Exiting finish

The match remained exciting. The hosts again slipped up in their own box on 81 minutes. Central defender Jordan Torunarigha brought down substitute Leon Bailey – Aytekin again pointed to the spot. Aránguiz stepped up this time to calmly convert his spot-kick to make it 5-1 and crown an impressive display with a goal.

Five minutes later, the 55,000 spectators at Olympic Stadium in Berlin witnessed the award of a third penalty. This time for the hosts after referee Aytekin judged that Jonathan Tah had fouled Ibisevic. Substitute Sami Allagui gave Bayer 04 keeper Bernd Leno no chance to restore the three-goal deficit for Hertha on 86 minutes.

That did not last long. In the final minute, substitute Joel Pohjanpalo restored the four-goal advantage after fine work by another sub Danny da Costa – in a repeat of last week’s performance against Köln the Finn demonstrated his qualities as a striker as he headed in his sixth goal of the season (all as a sub). It was also the last move in the game with referee Aytekin drawing the match to its conclusion.

With the 6-2 victory, the team led by Korkut, put an end to a run of six games without a win to finish the season on 41 points in twelfth position in the table.

Match stats

Hertha Berlin: Jarstein – Pekarik, Brooks (Langkamp 46’), Torunarigha, Plattenhardt – Darida, Allan (Skjelbred 46’) – Weiser, Esswein (Allagui 69’) – Kalou, Ibisevic

Bayer 04: Leno – Henrichs, Tah, Jedvaj, Wendell (Da Costa 70’) – Baumgartlinger, Aránguiz – Havertz, Brandt – Kießling (Pohjanpalo 73’), Chicharito (Bailey 79’)

Goals: 0-1 Chicharito (5’), 0-2 Havertz (31’), 0:3 Havertz (45’), 0:4 Kießling (pen. 64’), 1-4 Weiser (71’), 1:5 Aránguiz (pen. 81’), 2-5 Allagui (pen. 86’), 2-6 Pohjanpalo (90’)

Booked: Allen, Ibisevic, Darida - Wendell (8th yellow card)

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Oberasbach)

Attendance: 55,617