Hertha Berlin take on Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga on Saturday, with the hosts looking to put further distance between themselves and the relegation zone.

Gladbach, meanwhile, moved back into the top half of the table last weekend as they look to finish within the Europa League qualification places.

Match preview

Having won two of their previous three matches to move outside of the relegation zone, Hertha headed into the Berlin derby with plenty of confidence of completing a league double over their city rivals Union Berlin.

Having been sent off in the reverse fixture, which ultimately cost Urs Fischer's side the game as they led 1-0 at the time before falling to a 3-1 defeat, Robert Andrich made amends with a thunderous strike from outside of the area to open the scoring after nine minutes.

Max Kruse and Julian Ryerson both went close to extending the hosts' lead, before Marvin Friedrich's mistimed challenge on Matteo Guendouzi allowed Dodi Lukebakio to equalise from the penalty spot.

Chances were few and far between after the break with both rivals cancelling each other out, with a point a respectable return for Hertha as they look to prey on a Gladbach side with more defensive vulnerabilities on Saturday.

However, having lost seven successive matches prior to their 3-0 win at struggling Schalke 04 before the international break, Gladbach appear to have put their prolonged blip behind them after coming from behind to secure a fine 2-1 victory against Freiburg last weekend.

Christian Streich's side had taken the lead in the early exchanges after Roland Sallai capped a slick counter-attack, before Yann Sommer kept Gladbach in the game with a superb reflex stop with his outstretched foot to agonisingly deny Lucas Holer's effort from crossing the entirety of the line.

Die Fohlen were much improved after the break, with Marcus Thuram's deflected equaliser breathing new life into them. The France forward raced past Philipp Lienhart and around Florian Muller to coolly slot away his sixth strike of the season and secure three points which took them above their opponents and back into the top half of the table.

It remains to be seen whether seventh place will be enough to secure a Europa League qualification spot as that will depend on which side proves victorious in the DFB-Pokal.

Given that they are only four points behind sixth-placed Bayer Leverkusen and only goal difference keeps them below seventh-placed Union Berlin, Marco Rose's side are certainly not out of the race yet.

Team News

Hertha will be without midfielders Vladimir Darida and Lucas Tousart through suspension, but both will be available for next weekend's crucial trip to relegation rivals Mainz 05.

Sami Khedira could start alongside Guendouzi and Niklas Stark in midfield.

Dedryck Boyata, Marton Dardai, Luca Netz and Eduard Lowen are all facing a race against time to recover from injury before the end of the campaign.

Goalkeeper Rune Jarstein missed out on featuring in the Berlin derby after testing positive for COVID-19, with Alexander Schwolow set to deputise for him once again against Gladbach.

The visitors, meanwhile, could have Jonas Hofmann available once again after the winger tested positive for COVID-19 on international duty with Germany last month, but the 28-year-old is unlikely to start.

Nico Elvedi is unlikely to return until much later in April due to a calf injury, with 20-year-old Jordan Beyer deputising for him alongside the experienced Matthias Ginter.

Denis Zakaria could receive a start after his introduction at half time against Freiburg appeared to make Gladbach look a much more balanced outfit.

Hertha Berlin possible starting lineup:
Schwolow; Zeefuik, Klunter, Torunarigha, Mittelstadt; Khedira, Stark, Guendouzi; Lukebakio, Cordoba, Cunha

Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Lainer, Ginter, Beyer, Bensebaini; Kramer, Neuhaus, Zakaria; Stindl, Plea, Thuram

We say: Hertha Berlin 1-1 Borussia Monchengladbach

Both sides have improved in recent weeks and are capable of lightning transitions, so it could be an entertaining affair in Berlin on Saturday.

We can envisage a share of the spoils, which neither team would likely be too disappointed with.