Hertha Berlin earned a crucial victory in the battle to avoid relegation by beating fellow strugglers Hamburger SV 1-0 on Friday night.
Hamburg dominated possession for long spells, but struggled to create clear chances before being dealt a blow when Cleber was shown a second yellow card late on.
Hertha took control after the red card, and Sebastian Langkamp secured the points by heading home in the 85th minute.
Read below to find out how the drama unfolded in a crucial Bundesliga clash.
Good evening everyone and welcome to our live text coverage of the vital Bundesliga meeting between Hamburger SV and Hertha Berlin. Just one place and point separate these two sides in their battle to avoid relegation. Who can pick up the crucial win tonight?
It's what the pundits love to call a 'six pointer' tonight. Hamburg are just one place outside the relegation zone, and start the night a point behind Hertha. If these two sides are going to survive this season, it's imperative they pick up points against the teams around them. That's certainly easier said than done when the pressure is on.
For the hosts, the problem has been clear this season. They've only managed 16 goals in 25 Bundesliga games, and Josef Zinnbauer still doesn't appear to know what his best side is at the moment. At this stage of the campaign, a fine run for a from a forward can make the difference. The good news for Hamburg is that Hertha have been poor on the road in this campaign, picking up just nine points from a possible 36.
HAMBURG: Adler, Diekmeier, Djourou, Cleber, Westermann, Behrami, Müller, Stieber, van der Vaart, Ilicevic, Olic
Suspended duo Jaroslav Drobny and Petr Jircaek both miss out for the hosts, so Rene Adler and Rafael van der Vaart are handed starts. Pierre-Michel Lasogga is fit enough to earn a place in the squad, and he is joined on the bench by Lewis Holtby.
HERTHA: Kraft, Pekarik, Langkamp, Brooks, Plattenhardt, Skjelbred, Lustenberger, Ben-Hatira, Stocker, Beerens, Kalou
Genki Haraguchi fails to earn a place in the Hertha lineup despite scoring in the 2-2 draw with Schalke last weekend. Salomon Kalou is given the responsibility of leading the line with support from Anis Ben-Hatira, Valentin Stocker and Roy Beerens.
Live from Hamburg! pic.twitter.com/3mFDe6AXEV
— Hertha BSC UK Fans (@HerthaBerlinUK) March 20, 2015
There's no doubt that Hertha boss Pal Dardai expects this to be a good old fashioned relegation battle tonight.
"I'm expecting a feisty game, but we're physically and mentally ready for it. We're still in a tricky situation. It'll be tough and it's going to demand a lot of us, but obviously I want to win in Hamburg," he told reporters earlier this week.
PREDICTION: These games can often be a tight, nervy affair, but an early goal would certainly change that quickly. I'm expecting Hamburg to be positive in front of their home supporters early in the game, and Hertha may want to work on the counter. Sorry, it's time to sit on the fence. 2-2 draw.
STAT: Hertha are on a three-match winning run in this fixture. Anis Ben-Hatira scored twice in a 3-0 victory earlier in the campaign, and they managed to win by the same scoreline at this ground last season. Can they do it again?
Both sides are out and the handshakes are out of the way. Hertha will get the game underway!
Hamburg looked relaxed in possession early in the match, but a few misplaced passes from both sides have disrupted the rhythm of the game so far.
Van der Vaart, who has been on the fringes of the side for much of the season, has been dropping very deep in the early stages to get involved in attacks. The signs seem to be suggesting that Hertha are happy to work on the break.
Excellent from Stieber as he somehow manages to weave his way past three defenders before going down under pressure from Lustenberger. No decision from the referee though. Hamburg looking the brighter of the two teams.
SAVE! The home fans have been brought to life. Stieber cuts in from the right to unleash an effort which takes a deflection and forces Kraft to tip the ball over the crossbar. Cleber heads over from the corner which follows.
It's not quite clicking for Hertha. Kalou twice misses the chance to pick out Stocker, who eventually gives a free kick away in the Hamburg box. The hosts should be pretty happy with this start.
Hertha are more than happy to allow Hamburg to keep the ball at the back, and it's clear that they will look to make space difficult to find for the home side. It's a clash of styles at the moment.
Cleber is a threat from set-pieces once again. After winning a corner for his side, the defender is penalised for pushing Lustenberger in the process of heading home. He's furious, but it did look like a foul.
Hamburg may have started promisingly, but there are big concerns at the back when Westermann twice misses the opportunity to clear the ball. The home side are almost punished when a cross drifts a yard past Stocker in the box.
CLOSE! Another chance is missed. A long-throw is flicked on at the near post, but Van der Vaart can only volley a few inches wide of the post. What an opportunity for Hamburg!
Van der Vaart loses the ball in midfield to allow Hertha to break in numbers. Ben-Hatira should try to pick out Kalou at the far post, but he infuriates the Ivorian by sending a speculative chipped effort over the crossbar.
YELLOW CARD! The first booking of the night goes to Langkamp, who pulls down Ilicevic after watching the attacking midfielder knock the ball past him on the wing.
CHANCE! Van der Vaart continues to deliver the goods. Olic rises to meet the free kick but he can only head wide. Will they regret these missed chances?
Ben-Hatira is being jeered with every touch at his former club, and he won't silence the fans with terrible corners as Hamburg survive a spell of pressure.
Hamburg continue to dominate possession, but they need to find a cutting edge. Hertha will improve the longer the game remains goalless. Van der Vaart fires wide from a 30-yard free kick as another attack breaks down.
Westermann appears to have a problem as he talks to the physios on the touchline, but it looks like he's going to continue, which is good news for the hosts.
Hertha are coming into the game as the first half progresses. Skjelbred and Lustenberger are starting to assert themselves in midfield more, but we've seen very little of Kalou and Stocker so far.
Poor from Beerens. A couple of clever touches takes him into space on the right wing, but he wastes the opportunity to cross as the ball slices out of play.
It's getting very scrappy in this game now. Behrami is playing a key role in the midfield to cut out the Hertha counters as Hamburg struggle to make things stick in attack. Corner to the visitors following a long spell in possession.
Skjelbred becomes the latest player to waste the opportunity to pick out a teammate from a corner. Hamburg get back on top, but the visitors are defending much better now.
SHOT! Stieber has looked lively throughout the first half, and he tries his luck again with a curled effort which drifts just past the post. Kraft appeared to have it covered.
There's definitely an opportunity for Hertha to hit the hosts on the break, but they've been sloppy in possession so far. Kalou leads the attack in the middle of the pitch before giving the ball away with a poor touch.
Chances have been difficult to come by since that excellent start to the match from the hosts. Hertha are defending very well now, and Olic is starting to look a very isolated figure in attack.
Hertha enjoy a spell on top, but Djourou does well to head clear a free kick and Westermann finishes the job to relieve the pressure.
CHANCE! It's the visitors who finish the first half on top. Hamburg give the ball away in midfield once again and Stocker plays in Ben-Hatira, who can only fire a low shot straight at Djourou's leg.
HALF TIME: HAMBURG 0-0 HERTHA
It's been a typically nervy first half between two sides battling against relegation. Hamburg really should have been ahead after dominating the early stages, but Hertha survived and the visitors grew in confidence heading into the break.
In truth, Hertha should have created more chances. They've had numerous opportunities to attack when Hamburg have lost the ball high up the pitch, but the likes of Kalou, Ben-Hatira and Stocker have been wasteful in possession. The first goal is going to be crucial tonight.
BENCH WATCH: If Hamburg are going to make a change, it will surely be Holtby and Lasogga who come on first. Holbty's intelligence could hold the key in the final third, while Lasogga may be a better option than Olic, who has struggled tonight.
It looks like the Haraguchi is going to be the first player to be sent on from the bench. He's preparing to come on as the rest of the players return.
SUBSTITUTION:/strong> Haraguchi, who came off the bench to score last weekend, replaces Ben-Hatira. Hamburg get the game back underway.
It's a similar pattern at the start of the second half. Hamburg are seeing plenty of the ball, but Hertha are responding well to limit the space on offer.
Olic is furious when he's penalised for a foul on Beerens on the right wing. The referee refuses to hear the argument, and Hertha get the free kick.
Haraguchi makes a good run to get close to reaching the free kick, but Westermann manages to clear. It's been a very cagey start to the second half.
Superb work from Brooks. Van der Vaart drops deeper to deliver a cross towards Olic at the back post, but the Hertha defender tracks back to make a vital clearance.
Wild from Stocker. Hertha relieves some pressure with a long ball up field, and Stocker wastes the chance to keep possession by sending an effort over the crossbar from 35 yards.
Brilliant work from Haraguchi as he sprints past a couple of defenders before being chopped down in midfield by Behrami, who is fortunate not to be booked. In truth, it's not been the most entertaining of games to watch since the break. One goal could win it.
SUBSTITUTION: Could this be the change which makes the difference? Ilicevic jogs off to be replaced by Lasogga, who gets a great reception on his return from injury.
CHANCE! Hertha should be ahead. Beerens delivers a fine cross from the right, and Kalou, with no one around him in the box, can only head straight at Adler.
Another quiet period is almost put to an end as Westermann unleashes a speculative effort from 30 yards. Unfortunately, Kraft makes an easy save.
What a chance for Hamburg. Kraft comes off his line to confront Stieber in the box, but the attacker delays his pass to Lasogga, who is eventually crowded. Cleber then picks up a booking for stopping the Hertha break.
It's back and forth stuff now as Hertha step up the tempo. However, the visitors waste another corner as Hamburg relieve the pressure. Some of the set pieces have been so poor tonight.
Haraguchi spins a couple of defenders in the box with a clever touch, but he can only fire a low shot straight at a thankful Adler.
SUBSTITUTION: Van der Vaart has tired in the second half, and he jogs off to be replaced by Holtby. Can he make the difference in the final third?
SUBSTITUTION: Hertha make another change as Jens Hegeler comes off the bench to replace Stocker.
SHOT! Olic has been very, very quiet tonight, but he almost makes a big impact as he turns on the edge of the box before forcing Kraft into a save at the near post. It probably would have gone wide anyway.
RED CARD! It's going to be a tough finish for Hamburg. Cleber leads with his arm as he challenges Hegeler in the air, and after catching his rival with an elbow, the referee shows the defender a second yellow card. Can Hertha take advantage?
Hertha have immediately responded to the red card by piling on the pressure, and they've won a free kick in a very good position.
GOAL! HAMBURG 0-1 HERTHA (LANGKAMP)
Hertha break the deadlock! The free kick is delivered into the perfect area, and Langkamp gets a vital touch on the ball to send a header past Adler, whose powerless to prevent his side from falling behind. Can Hamburg respond?
SUBSTITUTIONS: Hertha are looking to protect the lead as Nico Schulz comes on to replace Kalou. Hamburg also make a change, with Maximilian Beister taking Diekemeier's place.
What a waste from Stieber. Hamburg win a free kick in a very promising position, but the attacking midfielder sends a wild effort into the stands. He just had to deliver a cross at this stage of the game.
The fourth official confirms there will be three minutes added on and Hertha are currently keeping the ball in the corner. It looks like they'll be picking up three crucial points.
YELLOW CARD! The frustration is clear as Holtby picks up a booking for arguing with the referee. Hertha have done a very good job of taking the sting out of the game.
FULL TIME: HAMBURGER SV 0-1 HERTHA BERLIN
It's all over. Hertha pick up a crucial victory thanks to Langkamp's header and move four points clear of Hamburg, who are in a lot of trouble and could be in the relegation zone by the end of the weekend. That's all from our live coverage. I hope you've enjoyed the game. Goodnight!
Written by
Callum Mulvihill
Callum Mulvihill
