Fortuna Dusseldorf vs Hertha Berlin Prediction & Betting Tips - Bundesliga

Prediction published on 25/02/2020, 13:29  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 26/02/2020 at 18:32 in Bundesliga Predictions

The Bundesliga weekend kicks off with Fortuna Dusseldorf hosting Hertha Berlin on Friday night. A relegation battle between two faltering teams it pits the home side in 16th place (the relegation/promotion play-off spot) taking on the visitors who are six points ahead in 14th place. One of two capital clubs in the German top flight, Hertha have been outdone by newly-promoted Union thus far. The season opened with a draw in Munich against Bayern, a false indication of how the next few months would play out. Jurgen Klinsmann was appointed in November to fan the flames that Ante Covic saw rising and could do little to stop. Klinsmann looked as though he was steadying the ship (only four defeats in ten matches, compared to seven in their previous twelve) before leaving earlier this month. Caretaker manager Alexander Nouri got that immediate bounce with a win at Paderborn but this was another false dawn as Hertha proceeded to suffer their biggest defeat of the season to Koln on Saturday. The only positive that Nouri can carry into this match is that Hertha are better away from home. They couldn't play worse than they did last weekend. 

Fortuna will fancy their chances of adding to Hertha's misery. A more positive weekend was had by Die Flingeraner as they ended a winless run of five games with a victory in Freiburg. Their first win of 2020, it was only the second time that they picked up three points on the road this season. At home, they are better but have still lost more than half of their matches (six defeats in 11 outings). It's no surprise that they have lost so many matches when one factors in the number of goals conceded by Fortuna (they have failed to keep a clean sheet in 82% of their games at The Düsseldorf Arena). However, the good form of attacking midfielder Erik Thommy and the goalscoring ability of Rouwen Hennings (11 Bundesliga goals this season) give Fortuna a chance to win points even if they do concede goals. They've won their last two home games against Hertha, we think they can get another win here.