FIRST TEAM
02/25/2010

A journey to the capital

1899 Hoffenheim will go head-to-head with Bundesliga-taillight Hertha BSC Berlin on Saturday's Bundesliga matchday 24 (27.02.2010, 15:30 CET).

Vedad Ibisevic has good memories of the reverse fixture earlier this season. During the 5-1 thumping at home in the Rhein-Neckar-Arena, the Bosnian international scored a hattrick and thus his first goals after his cruciate ligament rupture in the previous season. "We played well then and deserved to win. This time around, it wont be as easy however, as Berlin need to obtain a win in order to battle against relegation." There is however no need for Hoffenheim to be considerate of their opponents situation. "We will enter the game determined to take the three points back home," said Ibisevic.

Simunic and Nilsson doubtful

Whether or not Josip Siminuc will get to play against his former colleagues from Berlin, has not yet been decided. The 32-year-old defender is struggling with a calf injury. Per Nilsson is also doubtful for this encounter, as he sustained a knee injury during Thursdays training session. Apart from that, Rangnick will have to due without the likes of Matthias Jaissle, Andreas Beck, Chinedu Obasi and Franco Zuculini. Midfielder Tobias Weis on the other hand, has returned to the squads training sessions this week. He is not an alternative for the starting formation however.
Berlin have gathered some momentum
Hertha BSC was able to pick up three vital points last weekend in Freiburg, and thus having turned their prospects to fight off relegation slightly more favourable. Berlin's skipper Arne Friedrich is confident following the 3-0 triumph over Freiburg: "I continue to strongly believe that we will manage to stay in the league. Obviously we have to make sure that we keep picking up the three points, if we do that, we stand a good chance of leaving the relegation zone."

A level record

The team of coach Ralf Rangnick has the chance to level the record with Hertha BSC Berlin this weekend. In the previous season, the capital-club was able to lock up two victories. This season saw Hoffenheim collect an overwhelmingly deserved win in the Rhein-Neckar-Arena. Apart from Ibisevic, Obasi and Carlos Eduardo were able to add their names to the score-sheet during the 5-1 victory. Ralf Rangnick however, is aware that this will be a tough match: "We expect Hertha to play similarly as they did against Freiburg last weekend and we are not allowed to believe they will show a similar performance as in the reverse fixture earlier this season."

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