Fortuna Düsseldorf to start 2. Bundesliga campaign with win over Hertha Berlin

Fortuna Düsseldorf vs Hertha BSC - 29/07/2023

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Hertha Berlin will begin life in the 2. Bundesliga this weekend after being relegated from the top flight last term.

The Old Lady finished bottom of the Bundesliga table and are aiming to return to the first division at the first time of asking.

Hertha’s first-round opponent Fortuna Düsseldorf one of the favourites to win the 2. Bundesliga this season.

Fortuna Düsseldorf just missed out on the relegation-promotion playoff place last season, finishing fourth and eight points off third-place Hamburger SV.

Since 1994, Fortuna Düsseldorf and Hertha Berlin have met 11 times. Fortuna Düsseldorf edged Hertha in the head-to-head record with 4W-4D-3L.

The last four matches between these clubs at the Merkur Spiel Arena saw Fortuna Düsseldorf go unbeaten.

The Reds were brilliant at home last season, going unbeaten in their final 11 matches at the Merkur Spiel Arena. Head coach Daniel Thioune uses an attacking 4-3-3 formation.

Thioune suffered a major loss in the offseason, as striker Dawid Kownacki joined Werder Bremen on a free transfer.

The club also sold centre-back Christoph Klarer to Darmstadt. Thioune could give new forward Vincent Vermeij a club debut after signing from Freiburg.

The only injury worry for Thioune going into the match is that of defender Tim Oberdorf. He is nursing a bout of mono and is expected to miss the game.

Pai Dardar will lead Hertha into the season. He was re-appointed as head coach last April. He has several injuries to contend with on the opening day.

Ibrahim Maza, Kelian Nsona, Myziane Maolida, and Agustin Rogel are all carrying injuries and could miss the match.

Due to being relegated at the end of last season, Hertha Berlin had to sell several players in the offseason.

Lucas Trousart, Santiago Ascacibar, Jessic Ngankam, and Omar Alderete were all sold to bring in much-needed funds. Striker Krzysztof Piatek left on a free transfer.

Hertha Berlin spent very little in the transfer market on new players. Questions abound over where Hertha Berlin will get their goals from.

Fortuna Düsseldorf had an excellent home record in 2022-23. The Reds secured 11W-4D-2L at home, with 38 goals and 19 goals against.

Playing at home on opening day should benefit Fortuna Düsseldorf, as they aim for another match unbeaten against Hertha Berlin. Fortuna Düsseldorf should post a victory by a score of 3-1 against the Old Lady to kick off the season.

The Reds scored the fourth-most goals in the league last season, so expect them to get off to a good start in the final third.

Home team
Away team

Probability %

1X2

Pred

Correct score

Avg. goals

Weather conditions

Coef.

Score

Live
coef.

De2

Fortuna Düsseldorf Hertha BSC 29/07/2023 20:30

542422

1

3 - 1

3.80

22°

2.30

2.30 3.40 2.75 no no no

FT

1 - 0(0 - 0)

-

- - -