Our prediction for this Bundesliga match:
Hertha Berlin and Leipzig go head to head at Olympiastadion on day 23 of the current Bundesliga campaign. Hertha aim to escape the danger zone, but given their five-match winless run in the national championship, home win should not be considered. All Dardai, Korber, Nsona, Boyata, Christensen, and Jarstein should miss out with injuries, while Kevin-Prince Boateng should recover in time to face the Red Bulls.
Leipzig, on the other hand, quickly bounced back from a 3-2 loss to Bayern Munchen, with the team beating Koln 3-1 in front of home fans. The Red Bulls aim to stay in the Champions League berth, and they should take advantage of Hertha’s anything but good form. Domenio Tedesco can count on key players for Sunday’s clash. The Italian tactician is unlikely to make changes to the team that defeated the Billy Goats at the weekend.
Highlighted Player (Vladimir Darida):
Born in Sokolov on 8 August 1990, Vladimir Darida is yet another Czech Republic footballer who has made a name for himself in German Bundesliga, although not before leaving his mark on the domestic competition. The highly rated midfielder, who can successfully cover a number of positions in the middle of the park, enjoyed several successful years at Viktoria Plzen, making no fewer than 28 appearances in European competitions, before deciding to leave for SC Freiburg.
Darida performed so well in his first two Bundesliga campaign that he was purchased by Hertha Berlin when his previous employers got relegated to the second division, and he in turn helped the Olympiastadion outfit enjoy a thoroughly impressive campaign.
Darida was a surprise inclusion to the Czech Republic squad for the Euro 2012 finals, but there were no surprises when he played a key role to help Repre qualify for the Euro 2016 tournament. He impressed playing in a more advanced role in the absence of Tomas Rosicky, and he has already earned more than 30 caps for the national team.
Highlighted Team (Leipzig):
Leipzig are a professional football club founded in 2009. Die Bullen (The Bulls) were unbeaten in the 2012/2013 Regionalliga Nordost and, as a result, they secured promotion to the 3. Liga. After finishing the 2013/2014 as 3rd. Liga campaign in second place in the standings, Leipzig were promoted to the 2. Bundesliga and they competed in the German second tier for two seasons.
Despite suffering a loss to Karlsruher on the last day of the 2015/2016 round in the 2. Bundesliga campaign, die Bullen secured promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time ever. Leipzig play their home games at Red Bull Arena (42,959) and it has to be noted that the stadium was opened in 1954.
Die Bullen wear white shirts and red shorts while their away kit is blue and yellow. Ralph Hasenhuttl was appointed as the team’s manager at the end of the 2015/2016 season and you should know that the likes of Ralf Rangnick, Achim Beierlorzer, Alexander Zorniger, Peter Pacult, Tomas Oral and Tino Vogel were in charge of the team in the past as well.