Hertha Berlin midfielder Vedad Ibisevic (L). (Photo : Getty Images)
Reeling contenders Hertha Berlin SC (14-11-7, 49 points) is set to clash with lowly team SV Darmstadt 98 (8-13-11, 35 points) for a 2015-2016 Bundesliga matchup at the Olympiastadion on Saturday, May 7th as the current term reaches its last two matchdays.
Hertha dropped from third place in the league table to fifth place as of the moment as the team had been winless in their last five outings. With that, the capital city squad gave up their UEFA Champions League berth for next season and are now holding a spot for the Europa League instead.
They could still get back their Champions League slot as they are still tied on points with fourth-running team Borussia Monchengladbach with two games left in each one's campaign.
Head coach Pál Dárdai's boys are coming off an upsetting 1-2 loss to third-placed squad Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena last Saturday, as reported by ESPN.
Bayer's teenage winger Julian Brandt opened the scoring right at the second minute of the match before midfielder Lars Bender doubled their lead at the 16th to build an early 2-0 advantage.
A header from Bosnian striker Vedad Ibisevic netted one at the 21st to put the visitors on the board, but it was all Hertha could do as they lost for the third straight time.
Meanwhile, Darmstadt also went through a disappointing 1-2 defeat, this time versus bottom three squad Eintracht Frankfurt at their home ground of Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor also last Saturday, as per Vavel.
The hosts actually drew first blood in the contest via a right-footed strike from Bosnian midfielder Mario Vrancic at the 12th minute.
However, the visitors were able two goals in the second half, courtesy of midfielders Makoto Hasebe and Stefan Aigner at the 56th and 83rd minutes, to snatch the win away from the newly-promoted side.
Die Lilien is at the 14th spot of the current league table, only two points above the bottom three relegation zone with only two matches left in their season.
The predicted result is close 1-0 win for Hertha Berlin.
Hertha Berlin starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Jarstein; Pekarik, Langkamp, Lustenberger, Plattenhardt; Weiser, Stark, Skjelbred, Cigerci; Ibisevic, Kalou
SV Darmstadt 98 starting lineup (4-4-1-1 formation): Mathenia; Jungwirth, Sulu, Rajkovic, Caldirola; Heller, Niemeyer, Gondorf, Rausch; Vrancic; Wagner
