DFB Pokal Quarter-Finals: Hertha Berlin Faces SC Freiburg

omidbasir- Are you feeling the midweek blues? Don’t worry, the DFB Pokal quarter-finals are here! On Tuesday evening, 2. Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin will host Bundesliga team SC Freiburg. With Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart already secured in the final four, the anticipation builds to see who will join them.

Currently, Hertha sits in sixth place in the 2. Bundesliga, and they have the potential to challenge for promotion if they can convert some recent draws into victories. In their last five league matches, Hertha has drawn four and achieved one win, notably defeating SV Elversberg 3-0 last weekend, which stands as a commendable result.

Facing a resilient Bundesliga side striving for European qualification this season will be a significant challenge for the home team. This match marks Hertha’s first encounter with top-flight opposition in this year’s DFB Pokal, having previously competed only against teams within their division. However, with the advantage of playing at home in a relatively packed Olympiastadion, Hertha possesses the capability to make a formidable impression on Tuesday evening.

Keep an eye on winger Fabian Reese, who has tallied nine goals and five assists this season. Luca Schuler is expected to lead the attack for Hertha, having scored six goals in ten appearances to date.

Freiburg enters this match as the clear favorites, despite experiencing inconsistent form in recent weeks. One aspect to anticipate from Freiburg is the intensity of their emotions. Following their 1-0 victory against Werder Bremen last week, head coach Julian Schuster delivered a passionate and emotionally charged commentary regarding the fervor of football.

After a controversial VAR decision that resulted in Johan Manzambi’s dismissal in the 50th minute, Schuster expressed his bewilderment, which contributed to a theatrical demeanor as his side clung to their narrow lead.

“I was just upset about the foul,” Schuster stated to Sky Germany after the match. “At no point was I complaining about the yellow card decision. It’s unfortunate that some people cannot discern the difference. Passion and emotion should be embraced. I take full responsibility for some yellow cards I received,” he further elaborated during the post-match press conference. “In that moment, it was solely about my emotions. If you believe my gestures were too dramatic, then just let it go.”

Undoubtedly, the player to watch on the field is Igor Matanović. The 22-year-old forward has scored an impressive five goals in the four Bundesliga matches he has started this season.

While Freiburg may be seen as the favorites, both teams possess the talent to challenge each other’s defenses this Tuesday evening — making it an intriguing match to look forward to.