For the first time this season, the Olympic Stadium in Berlin is sold out for Saturday’s (15:30 CET) match between BVB and Hertha Berlin, the 20th match of the Bundesliga campaign. This is partly because of the success of Pal Dardai’s team this season, who find themselves in third place, and partly due to the large BVB fan base in Berlin and Brandenburg.

One and a half years ago, on the last match-day of the 2013/2014 season, almost 30,000 Black and Yellow fans filled the Olympic Stadium. Now it’ll be close to 10,000 on a bright and sunny February afternoon, when BVB, with two wins from two in their opening matches of the second half of their campaign, attempt to secure second place in the table to try to keep their distance from a direct competitor. “That is our big target,” explained Thomas Tuchel.

"We can take an important step forward"

“We are entirely aware” of the situation in the table, said Borussia Dortmund’s Manager, and knows “we can take an important step forward, which of course comes with tension and a big challenge. There are always milestones to encounter along the way,” he stated, with a view to getting back into contention for the UEFA Champions League. “One of the challenges, of course, will be a hard-fought encounter with a direct competitor. We can send out a message with this match, to us and other teams around us.”

BVB know all about Hertha’s effectiveness in attack and stability in defence (they have only conceded 35 goals in 34 matches under Dardai, and only 2 counterattacking goals this season). “I am expecting a very difficult match,” said Thomas Tuchel and said of his opponents: “They are full of self-belief”. Yet “we are confident in our ability to go there and win”.

Dardai's men vulnerable to set-pieces

The Berliners, under Pal Dardai, have not morphed into world-beaters within a year, though. The few goals they have conceded are because they have been saved by the post or crossbar ten times. They are still vulnerable to set-pieces (free-kicks, corners and penalties). In this respect, they have conceded nine goals. 

Boris Rupert