Ambitious Hertha avoiding hangover from last season's heartache

The fact that Borussia Dortmund are competing in a battle between second and third at this stage of the Bundesliga season comes as no surprise whatsoever. That they are facing Hertha Berlin is more of a shock, and Pal Dardai’s charges being the current incumbent of the silver spot in Germany’s top-flight is even more so.

While Hertha finished in a respectable seventh place last season, the manner in which they ended the 2015/16 campaign will have been of considerable concern to the fans. Indeed, Hertha were well placed at this stage a year ago - with three points fewer in fifth - and went from strength to strength in what looked likely to be a sensational season for a club that only avoided a relegation play off on goal difference in the campaign previous.

The Old Lady of German football defied the odds to emerge as the closest challenger to the power two - albeit from a significant distance - for the majority of the season, only deviating from third in the league once between gameweek 16 ahead of the winter break all the way to gameweek 30. Their collapse had begun by that stage though, and with the scent of Champions League football increasing the nerves began to jangle. A record of just 2 points from the final 21 available saw Dardai’s men not only surrender the chance to compete among Europe’s elite for the first time since 2000 but also miss out on an automatic place in the Europa League in a straight shootout with Mainz on the final day. It was a dismal end to a season that had promised so much for so long.

When Hertha started the current campaign the way they had ended the last, questions were raised over whether last season’s impressive form up until April had been a one off. A 3-1 defeat away to Brondby in the second leg of their Europa League qualifier ensured that Dardai - who is the most capped Hertha player in UEFA competitions (14) - couldn’t pass on any of his European experience to his players. Two weeks later Hertha required a late equaliser and penalty shootout to progress past the first round of the DFB Pokal against third tier Jahn Regensburg. The preparations for the league season were far from ideal.

With three of the league's biggest names to face in the opening seven matches, few would have expected Hertha to enter the latest of those against Borussia Dortmund ahead of Die Schwarzgelben this time two months ago. As it is, however, the Blue and Whites have lost just the once in the league, with that defeat coming at the Allianz Arena. Three days later Frankfurt would steal a point at the death in a scintillating 3-3 draw as Dardai faced former Hertha clubmate Niko Kovac, but with maximum points, eight goals scored and just one conceded from their remaining four matches, Friday night’s visitors are one point and one place ahead of Thomas Tuchel’s charges.

So what has been behind Hertha’s strongest start to a Bundesliga season in 46 years, and how will they hope to overcome a Dortmund side that have been devastating at times?

Simply put, the success of this side is built on commitment, organisation and efficiency. Hertha aren’t a team concerned with retaining possession for long periods of time, but rather making the most of the ball to concentrate on forging strong goalscoring opportunities. In many regards, they are the polar opposite’s to Friday night’s visitors, making the match with Dortmund all the more intriguing.

While Tuchel’s side have averaged 64% possession this season - not far behind Bayern - Hertha’s current 44.2% share is the fourth lowest in the league. Moreover, where last season’s runners up have averaged 15.2 shots per game, Dardai’s men have mustered more only than Darmstadt (8.7). A tally of eleven league goals thus far means that Hertha have been the most clinical finishers to date then, converting 21.2% of their chances, while only Gladbach can boast a better shot accuracy (46.2%).

Of course, to manage such impressive figures in front of goal one needs a marksman of a certain calibre, and Vedad Ibisevic - now 32 - has been in a rich vein of form. A proven goalscorer in Germany’s top-flight, moving to within three of a landmark 100 Bundesliga goals with a brace against Hamburg, the Bosnian is the talisman for this side having been handed the captain’s armband this season. Ibisevic’s five goals is a joint high in the league, requiring the fewest shots per game to reach that tally of the five players tied on the leaderboard, while a further two assists mean the experienced striker has had a direct hand in more goals than any other player.

Impressively, so far they have coped without last season’s top scorer Salomon Kalou, who hasn’t played a minute having lost both his father and aunt since Hertha’s campaign began. The Ivorian international scored 14 league goals last season and now says that he is ready to play once more after a long period of mourning.

The former Chelsea forward still has his sights set on beating last season’s exploits both individually and as a club. "I want to score 15 goals this season and end the season at least in sixth place.” Kalou knows that he will have to fight for his place but is determined to prove to Dardai that he is ready to make his return, stating "No one expected us to start so well in the season. Hertha has achieved that without me on the pitch. Of course it is not easy to make big demands. But I firmly believe in myself. I know my chance will come soon. Maybe against Dortmund."

Another consistent goal threat would certainly be a boost, with Hertha benefiting from four goals from substitutes in the opening weeks of the campaign, netting late on to ensure the points thus far. It’s a trend that won’t be reliable for too long, so Kalou’s comeback could be a real boost to an attack that is currently firing at unsustainable prolificacy.

Elsewhere it’s the work ethic that has been fostered by a manager that is so attached to this club that has been pivotal to the Old Lady’s rise. Ranking third for both tackles and interceptions per game this season, the Hertha’s current longest serving player Fabian Lustenberger sets the tone in the middle of the park in the image of Dardai - the club’s record all time Bundesliga appearance holder. The 28-year old Swiss has averaged a combined total of 6.3 tackles and interceptions per game and will be vital to disrupting a Dortmund side so comfortable and progressive in possession on Friday.

However, it’s the hosts’ right flank that could see the most action at either end. Hertha have focused most of their attacks through that channel this season (41%), with Mitchell Weiser a key player for the side in many aspects. The former Bayern graduate has proven to be something of a coup for the club, with his versatility and energy invaluable assets. The 22-year old leads the way for the side in terms of dribbles this season (1.8 per game), is tied first for chances created (1.2 per game) and offering 2.7 interceptions per match.

It’s the defensive side of his game that could be called upon more often on Friday, with Dortmund - again opposed to Hertha - averaging more of their attacking touches down their left hand side (37%). With Ousmane Dembele making a fine start to life under Tuchel on that wing and the option to call upon fellow summer signing Andre Schurrle, Weiser and right-back Peter Pekarik will have their work cut out for them in a direct battle that could be decisive.

With a respectable record against Dortmund in recent years, taking 10 points from their last eight meetings with Die Schwarzgelben, Hertha will be hoping to cause an upset in gameweek 7. Facing the Yellow Wall will be another test of this side’s credentials as they aim to establish themselves among Germany’s finest once more, and though it may be a case of the hosts needing to break down the Berlin wall to win on Friday, with Ibisevic firing and Kalou back in the mix, this efficient Hertha side won’t need too many chances against a suspect Dortmund defence.

Can Hertha Berlin better last season's finish in the Bundesliga this time around? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below