In complete contrast to their opening game to the season, Hertha Berlin were really poor in this game, losing 3-1, getting a consolation goal late on as Hinteregger put the ball in his own goal. They set up in a 4-3-3 / 4-diamond-2 with a fluid front three as Lukebakio and Cunha roamed and could both drop into midfield. They made three changes at half time but failed to turn around the 2 goal deficit from the first half. They lacked structure in the midfield at times and didn’t have enough support for the player on the ball.
Ratings:
- A1 – Very good, could play higher
- A2 – Strong potential to play higher
- B1 – Good, strong player at level
- B2 – Potential to be strong player at level
- C – Average for the level, re-watch
- D – Below average in this match
Matheus Cunha
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Brazilian
- Age: 21
- Date of birth: 27/05/1999
- Current club: Hertha Berlin
- Career: Coritiba (Y), FC Sion, RB Leipzig, Hertha Berlin
- Position: Striker
- Secondary position: Right Wing
- Preferred foot: Right
This was a disappointing but very difficult game for Cunha, which was a big part of why Hertha struggled as a whole. Every time he got the ball he was doubled-up on instantly and in 2v1s the whole game with Frankfurt paying special attention to him and really limiting him the whole game.
He still showed his quality with good touches on switches of play and good footwork with the ball but wasn’t able to beat 2 men every time. He used feints well and wanted to drive forwards when possible. He dropped deeper or moved to the left to find space and was able to carry at times but had no time on the ball overall even though he found some good positions between the lines.
Off the ball he worked hard and was an intelligent presser as well as continuing to be a strong corner taker from the left. Overall he really struggled in this game and Frankfurt defended against him extremely well but he still showed his athleticism and good technical ability but wasn’t allowed to affect the game.
Rating – A2
Dodi Lukebakio
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Belgian
- Age: 22
- Date of birth: 24/09/97
- Current club: Hertha Berlin
- Career: Anderlecht, Toulouse (L), Charleroi (L), Watford, Fortuna Dusseldorf (L), Hertha Berlin
- Position: Right Wing
- Secondary position: Striker
- Preferred foot: Left
Lukebakio played on the right of the front 3 and as usual didn’t get loads of touches on the ball before being subbed off in the 83rd. When he did get the ball he showed good holdup play, using his 6’2″ frame well and drawing several fouls. He drove to the byline a few times but wasn’t able to get a good ball into the box and should have done better at times. His one cross from the left wide was good though, whipped in well to the front post.
He made some good runs in behind and got into some dangerous positions, taking two shots but overall couldn’t effect the game enough. I would have liked him to drop deep more and look to receive the ball in pockets of space as when he was able to drive in space and get up to good speeds he was most effective. He could have imposed himself on the ball more but Hertha struggled as a whole to provide service. He worked hard and showed good control and footwork in tight spaces but overall didn’t do enough.
Rating – B1
Deyovaisio Zeefuik
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Dutch
- Age: 22
- Date of birth: 11/03/98
- Current club: Hertha Berlin
- Career: Ajax (Y), Groningen, Hertha Berlin
- Position: Right Back
- Preferred foot: Right
Zeefuik came on at half time at right back and impressed. He stands at 5’10” but I thought he looked shorter, with a stocky build and muscular legs. He was very energetic with good speed and explosiveness, putting a lot of pressure on the ball and getting very tight to his man to stop crosses even if his technique was a bit rushed he did well overall. In this sense he came across as a bit raw but with his strong athleticism could be a very solid defender and with time he will add more calmness to his defending. He had a short centre of gravity and showed good strength in the challenge.
He also carried the ball forwards very well, cutting inside during buildup and progressing the ball through midfield or spreading it left. However he did lose the ball a few times and could have made better decisions at times. He worked hard down his wing and supported the attack well but didn’t really get the chance to do much in the final third. Overall, a good 2nd Bundesliga appearance after joining in the summer and someone I’m looking forward to watching more of.
Rating – A2
Jordan Torunarigha
Player Profile:
- Nationality: German
- Age: 23
- Date of birth: 07/08/97
- Current club: Hertha Berlin
- Career: Chemnitzer FC (Y), Hertha Berlin
- Position: Centre Back
- Secondary position: Left Back
- Preferred foot: Left
Playing as the left centre back, Torunarigha had a very disappointing game and failed to meet his usual standards. He stands 6’3″ with a good frame, he showed good strength in his defending as well as his usual great athleticism and pace but it felt like the scoreline affected him mentally and he let his standards and concentration drop after having a good start to the game.
He was comfortable on the ball, spreading the ball to the left back mainly in buildup and played a few good line-breaking passes into attacking players. He carried the ball into space and also got the assist for their goal by making a great carry from half way to the byline and cutting the ball back but Frankfurt put it in their own goal.
He defended space well, covered across and put in well-timed tackles, particularly in the first half, showing good strength and pressing out the line well several times. However, he defended in the box and in deep areas poorly. He was strong in the air but he was poorly positioned in the box. He faced crosses too much and lacked awareness in the box, not marking effectively and allowing his man to make runs across him easily. He lost concentration and felt like he’d given up on the game. Overall you could see his on the ball ability and great athleticism but really let himself down on the day with his deep defending and let his intensity and focus drop.
Rating – B2
Maximilian Mittelstädt
Player Profile:
- Nationality: German
- Age: 23
- Date of birth: 18/03/97
- Current club: Hertha Berlin
- Career: Hertha Berlin
- Position: Left Back
- Secondary position: Left Wing
- Preferred foot: Left
Playing as left back for most of the game, Mittelstädt had a standard game where he did okay but didn’t exactly standout. He was used a lot in buildup, having the most touches of anyone of the pitch, but Hertha’s structure was often poor so he wasn’t actually able to progress the ball that much, often with 6 men in the opposition’s defensive line but no one inside in the midfield. He got into a few good positions high up but not very often and his crossing and decision making in the final third wasn’t great.
He played a few good switches of play and carried the ball well going forwards. Defensively he was okay but was mixed when defending 1v1, he got tight but was too upright and front-on and could be beaten by a burst of pace and didn’t have great acceleration or footwork to keep up with attackers if they were allowed space.
Overall he had the sort of performance I’ve come to expect from him. His defensive technique could be better but he did alright overall with nothing special but no significant mistakes. Hertha weren’t great which limited him in buildup but carried the ball forwards well and did what he could on the ball and his final ball could have been better.
Rating – B2
Lucas Tousart
Player Profile:
- Nationality: French
- Age: 23
- Date of birth: 29/04/97
- Current club: Hertha Berlin
- Career: Valenciennes, Lyon, Hertha Berlin
- Position: Defensive Midfield
- Preferred foot: Right
Tousart played on the left side of the midfield three and had a mixed performance. He made some decent carries down the left side. He mainly stayed down the left, often drifting very wide in buildup and not being accessible and taking some odd positions in general whereas I thought he could have done more and been more influential. He made a few okay forward runs but these were mixed and at times cut off the space of others and/or weren’t accessible. His passing was mixed, he played some good switches but too many of his shorter passes were sloppy and lazy, lacking accuracy or weight and didn’t progress the ball much. He made some okay runs into the box and took three shots but didn’t test the keeper enough.
Defensively he used his body well at times and was strong shoulder to shoulder but didn’t do much out of possession, not making any tackles or interceptions. He stuck to the left side too much and didn’t work hard enough or play with much intensity. He went missing a lot and doesn’t do enough to impose himself on the game or work hard out of possession.
Overall he did okay this game but still failed to really impress or impact the game. He’s well built but lacked work rate and switches off too easily and didn’t do much defensively and made simple mistakes with his passing.
Rating – C