Eintracht Frankfurt will aim to put their UEFA Super Cup defeat behind them when they travel to face Hertha Berlin in Saturday's Bundesliga battle.
Die Adler went down 2-0 to Los Blancos in midweek, while the hosts are seeking to recover from an opening-day 3-1 loss to Union Berlin in the Bundesliga.
Match preview
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After being forced to rescue their Bundesliga status via the playoffs in the 2021-22 season, Hertha Berlin's fortunes have not improved a few months later, as Sandro Schwarz's men were put to the sword 3-1 by Union Berlin.
Jordan Siebatcheu, Sheraldo Becker and Robin Knoche were all on target for the hosts before Dodi Lukebakio netted a late consolation against their city rivals, and Hertha were also forced to pack their bags in the DFB-Pokal after losing to Eintracht Braunschweig on penalties.
With Borussia Monchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund awaiting to lock horns with Schwarz's men before the end of the month, the hosts' chances of putting some points on the board in August are slim, but one positive is there to be had at home.
Indeed, Hertha Berlin scored in every one of their home fixtures in the 2021-22 Bundesliga season - albeit while winning just six of them - and a midweek journey to Helsinki for the visitors did not end in glory.
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Frankfurt's preparations for the UEFA Super Cup had already suffered a blow when it was announced that integral wing-back Filip Kostic would not be involved due to his imminent move to Juventus, and Oliver Glasner's side could not upset the odds in Helsinki.
Fresh from winning their 14th Champions League crown, Real Madrid struck through David Alaba and Karim Benzema to get their hands on yet another continental honour and force Die Adler to make the journey back to base empty-handed.
Having also suffered a 6-1 defeat to reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich on the opening weekend, the Europa League holders are in desperate need of a pick-me-up, but there were some positive signs on show against Carlo Ancelotti's men.
Frankfurt head to Berlin aiming to avoid a fifth straight Bundesliga game away from home without victory, but their most recent league win on the road was actually a 4-1 success over their upcoming hosts, who had previously stunned Glasner's side with a 2-1 win at the Deutsche Bank Park in October.
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Team News
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Hertha Berlin will welcome the return of Lucas Tousart after the French midfielder served a suspension last weekend, but veteran midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng suffered a scare with a calf injury in training earlier this week.
The former Frankfurt man is not thought to be nursing anything serious and will hope to shake off the issue in time for the weekend, while Marco Richter is back with his teammates after an operation to remove a testicular tumour.
Whether the 24-year-old is fit enough for a place in the squad this week is another question entirely, but Stevan Jovetic is pushing to be involved in the final third, while Kelian Nsona, Jessic Ngankam, Lee Dong-jun and Omar Alderete are all sidelined.
Meanwhile, Frankfurt have already begun life without Kostic, who has completed his move to Juventus, with Christopher Lenz now set to take on the left-wing back responsibilities.
Defender Jerome Onguene is still struggling with a thigh problem, while Aurelio Buta's knee injury will also take a little longer to heal, and Glasner must assess the fitness of his crop after a taxing week.
Rafael Borre is at risk of losing his place up top to new signing Randal Kolo Muani, who netted his side's consolation against Bayern, while Mario Gotze will hope to force his way back into the side ahead of Jesper Lindstrom.
Hertha Berlin possible starting lineup:
Christensen; Kenny, Uremovic, Kempf, Plattenhardt; Serdar, Tousart, Boateng; Lukebakio, Jovetic, Maolida
Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Tuta, Ndicka, Toure; Knauff, Sow, Rode, Lenz; Kamada, Gotze; Kolo Muani
We say: Hertha Berlin 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Doing the domestic double over Frankfurt and scoring in all of their home matches should give Hertha Berlin quite the psychological boost ahead of Saturday's game against a Frankfurt side who have experienced a difficult period both on and off the field.
Glasner's men will have to battle their way through fatigue to get the job done this week, but a refreshed Kolo Muani who has already got off the mark in the Bundesliga can look to inspire Die Adler to their first league win of the new term.
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Top tip
Ben Knapton
