Oliver Glasner made three changes to the team that started against Bayern Munich a week ago. Kristijan Jakic, Daichi Kamada and Rafael Borré were all recalled to the starting line-up, with Christopher Lenz suspended, Danny da Costa missing out with a knock and Ajdin Hrustic dropping to the bench.
Deserved lead
Eintracht made the stronger start at the Olympiastadion, with their high pressing causing Hertha to concede possession. Jesper Lindström was twice through on goal after defensive errors in the early stages, but was denied by last-ditch challenges on both occassions. The Eagles then took the lead with their third opportunity on 17 minutes. Filip Kostic did well to make space for himself on the left and loft a cross to the far post, where Ansgar Knauff rose brilliantly to head the ball into the far top corner for his first Eintracht goal.
There was little in the way of genuine goalscoring opportunities after that, but Eintracht remained in control of proceedings while the hosts offered little going forward, with Kevin Trapp not having a single notable save to make in the first half.
Eagles finish things off
Eintracht doubled their advantage just two minutes into the second half. After a corner was cleared, Knauff kept the opportunity alive with a cross from the right, which Evan Ndicka headed back across goal for the unmarked Tuta to turn it in – his third goal of the campaign. The Eagles continued to take advantage of the hosts’ insecurity at the back and made it 3-0 just eight minutes later. A long ball from Martin Hinteregger was cut out by Marcel Lotka, but the Hertha goalkeeper gave it straight to Lindström, who lobbed it beautifully into the empty net (56’).
The Berliners responded with a triple substitution and it was one of these, Davie Selke, who immediately pulled a goal back, firing an unstoppable volley past Trapp after Eintracht only half-cleared the ball (61’). Any faint hopes of a comeback were immediately quashed just 75 seconds later, though, as the Eagles broke quickly with Kamada laying it off to Borré, who beat his man before coolly slotting into the bottom corner (63’).
There could have been further goals after that, with substitute Jens Petter Hauge having a shot saved for SGE and Ishak Belfodil doing the same for Hertha, but the score remained 4-1.
Summary: Crucial win
After three consecutive defeats, this was exactly what Eintracht needed. Glasner’s men controlled the game from start to finish and showed the efficiency in front of goal that they’ve been lacking in recent weeks, giving themselves a vital confidence boost ahead of the first leg of their UEFA Europa League round of 16 tie against Real Betis on Wednesday.
SGE line-up
Trapp – Tuta, Hinteregger, Ndicka – Knauff (Chandler 83’), Jakic, Sow (Ilsanker 88’), Kostic – Lindström (Hauge 73’), Kamada (Hrustic 83’) – Borré (Lammers 72’)
Goals
0-1 Knauff (17‘)
0-2 Tuta (48‘)
0-3 Lindström (56’)
1-3 Selke (61‘)
1-4 Borré (63’)
