Germany – Bundesliga
Date: 2017-03-05
Day: Sunday
Kick off:16:30
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Hamburger SV vs Hertha Berlin Preview and Prediction
Hamburg will be desperate to put a miserable week behind them this Sunday. Last weekend’s traumatic visit to the Allianz Arena saw the North German’s suffer the worst defeat seen so far in the 2016/2017 Bundesliga campaign, an 8-0 defeat at the hands of reigning champions Bayern Munich. Come Wednesday evening, their DFB Pokal dreams were also over, as Hamburg lost 2-1 at home to Borussia M’gladbach in the quarter finals. Markus Gisdol’s side looked to have turned a corner before these matches, but such a run will no doubt be a real knock to their confidence.
Hertha’s fortunes contrast those of Hamburg. The Berliners should be fairly confident travelling to the Volksparkstadion. Pal Dardai’s side came very close to beating Bayern Munich a few weeks back – only Robert Lewandowski’s 96th minute equaliser saved the Bavarians a point (1-1 point) – before outsmarting 10-man Eintracht Frankfurt in a 2-0 win at the Olympiastadion last Saturday.
Hamburg are slight favourites here at 31/20, but we feel that backing Hertha Berlin “0.0 Asian Handicap” is better for the following reasons: despite a brief “hot streak” of three wins against Leverkusen, Cologne and RB Leipzig, Hamburg’s weaknesses have been exposed and picked apart over their last three competitive matches. There was obvious humiliation in their 8-0 defeat away to Bayern Munich, but conceding two goals in each of their last two home matches after three clean sheets from four sees questions being raised again.
Hamburg may be unbeaten at the Volksparkstadion over their last five Bundesliga matches (W3 D2), but the Berliners are a side capable of results, for example, with their 1-1 draw away to Borussia Dortmund in the DFB Pokal round of 16. Hertha are fighting for European football and not trying to avoid relegation, like Hamburg, for a reason. Notably, Hertha have recorded more Bundesliga wins against Hamburg (28) than against any other team, winning six of their last seven games against them.
Hertha’s Vedad Ibisevic is the man in form, with a goal in each of his last two outings. His 10 goal total for the season makes him the joint 5th highest scorer in the Bundesliga. He scored both goals against Hamburg in October’s reverse fixture (2-0 Hertha), so we find him decent value here at 15/8 to score anytime with bet365.
Regarding a correct score bet, though Hamburg have conceded two or more in all of their last three matches, the North German’s haven’t failed to score in any of their last 7 matches at the Volksparkstadion. As such, we feel a Hertha Berlin 2-1 win has some value to offer at 10/1.
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HEAD TO HEAD
Hertha Berlin won 2-0 in Hamburg in the reverse fixture from earlier this season. Hertha have won 6 of the last 7 meetings between them (W6 L1).
HAMBURG VS HERTHA BERLIN STATS
Hertha have lost just one of their last four matches (W2 D1 L1), even holding Bayern Munich to a 1-1 draw. Hamburg have conceded at least 2 goals in all of their last three competitive matches.
HAMBURG TEAM NEWS
Hamburg are doubtful over center back Johan Djourou.
HERTHA BERLIN TEAM NEWS
Hertha Berlin’s only notable doubtfuls are right-back Mitchell Weiser and center forward Julian Schieber.
HAMBURG VS HERTHA BERLIN PREDICTIONS both team to score
