What the papers say: ‘Hertha almost get it all right’

Hertha Berlin celebrated a deserved 3-0 win against a once again disappointing Werkself and jumped from the play-off position to fourteenth in the table,” reports the Frankfurter Rundschau. “Deyovaisio Zeefuik (on four minutes), Matheus Cunha (26’) and Jhon Cordoba (33’) scored the goals for the side from the capital who hit Leverkusen on the break on their own ground.”

“Hertha almost get it all right,” is the headline to the match report in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that takes the early wonder goal from right-back Zeefuik as an example. “Zeefuik could hardly have wished for a more stunning first Bundesliga goal. Or a more important one either,” the journal continues. “It was the sort of goal that gives all teammates, coaches and other staff on the bench the feeling that everything would go right on the day. And that’s what happened too.”

Efficiency makes the difference

The Süddeutsche Zeitung does take a different position: “Leverkusen did reveal they still have the ability to play the game despite the recent disappointing results across all competitions. Centre-forward Patrik Schick was set up in a good position from crosses but he headed one wide of the target, another time he laid the ball off although there was nobody backing him up. After that, Hertha demonstrated how moves look that earn the adjective ‘effective’. The second attack brought the second goal.”

The discrepancy in terms of efficiency is also addressed by the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. “The biggest point of criticism from the club management after the 2-1 defeat against Arminia Bielefeld was the fatal characteristic of enabling the opposition to score the opening goal with their first shot on goal and then making it 2-0 with the second one,” the reporter declares. “This time it was 3-0 after three shots on the Bayer goal by the opposition.”

Improved performance after half-time

The Rheinische Post was even of the opinion after the one or the other impressive saves from the Werkself shot-stopper in the second half that: “If Lennart Grill had not demonstrated on several occasions why he is the Germany U21 keeper then the biggest defeat for the Werkself this season would have been by an even bigger margin.”

All the same: kicker credits the Werkself with an improved performance in the second half. “After the break, Bayer changed to a 3-1-4-2 formation with the introduction of Alario and Amiri, which actually produced more possession but too little benefit overall,” is the analysis in the specialist journal. “One positive: They did not lose the ball as easily after that.”

“The squad has enough good players”

The Kölnische Rundschau also notes the chances for Bayer 04 after half-time and the Hertha goal ruled out by VAR: “Soon after, the Hertha keeper Rune Jarstein saved brilliantly at close range to keep out Schick. A header from the Czech also went wide.”

“Of course, Leverkusen had big personnel problems,” declared BILD in a commentary on the current situation for the Werkself, “But the squad has enough good players – at least it should be assumed.”