Highlights
0:24
WATCH: RICHTER: "IT WAS VERY EMOITONAL"
0:21
WATCH: LUKEBAKIO: "MY HEADING IS GETTING BETTER!"
Full-time
90'
+ 3
Richter wraps it up!
On just his second game back since his cancer recovery and back at his former club, Marco Richter wraps up Hertha's first three points of the season. Lukebakio is sent clear by Kenny from the halfway line. Augsburg were up the other end of the field so it's a simple square to Richter, who beats Gikiewicz just like he did cancer to settle this.
88'
Clock ticking
Augsburg and huffing and puffing but the Berlin wall is not falling. In fact, Hertha look comfortable and willing to play it around.
83'
Substitution
83'
Substitution
82'
Substitution
80'
Hertha the only one likely
Goal attempts
6off target
1on target
10off target
4on target
75'
Fresh legs up top
Like-for-like double change in attack for Augsburg as they seek a way back into this. Remember they sent Ricardo Pepi out on loan at the end of the window.
74'
Substitution
74'
Substitution
70'
Not far from Kenny
The Englishman races up the right and into the box. With no options available, he goes for goal himself looking for the far corner, but it's always bending away.
0:06
On comes "hero" Richter for Hertha
69'
Substitution
68'
Dodi doubles up
Lukebakio now has two goals this season, accounting for two thirds of Hertha's total this campaign. He's already equalled his haul from last season, which saw him net one each for the Berliners and Wolfsburg.
65'
Deserved advantage for Hertha?
xGoals
0
0.23
0.78
1
Goals
58'
Substitution
57'
Dodi's done it!
Peach of a cross from the left by Plattenhardt. Lukebakio gets in front of his marker in the middle and just has to meet it with his head and direct it past Gikiewicz. And this game now has lift-off!
57'
SituationGoal
ReviewOffside?
DecisionGoal
54'
Wasted
High ball into the box is headed back across goal and cleared off the line by a Hertha defender before Berisha blazes the follow-up over. But the assistant had already signalled that the ball had gone out.
53'
Tousart!
First shot in anger for some time as Tousart unleashes one from 20 yards. But it's always fizzing wide.
46'
Attacking change
Enrico Maaßen has decided to loosen the chains a bit and send on attacker Vargas in place of the more defensive-minded Maier for the second half.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 2
Substitution
45'
+ 2
Tight first 45
xGoals
0
0.19
0.45
0
Goals
Half-time
45'
Added time
One extra minute at the end of this half.
38'
Chances slowly totting up
Goal attempts
3off target
0on target
5off target
1on target
Gruezo done
© Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images
36'
Substitution
35'
Ejuke!
Closest we've come to an opener as Ejuke cuts in onto his right and looks for the far bottom corner. It's just inches wide with Gikiewicz scrambling.
34'
Kenny!
The full-back pops up on the edge of the box as the ball comes out. He hits it first time but it swerves over the bar.
30'
Attacking zones
Even with Caligiuri over on the right, absolutely everything so far has gone down the left for Augsburg. 67% of their entries into the final third have been down the left wing, 33% up the inside left.
28'
Coming to life
Better again from Augsburg. Berisha again at the heart of it down the left and squaring looking for Demirovic, but it's cut out.
28'
Berisha!
The forward has looked lively on his debut following his deadline day move. He gets the better of Kenny in a tussle and gets a shot away from the left of goal, but it's off the outside of the post.
24'
Uremovic takes a risk
He was sent off a few weeks ago and the Hertha defender has taken another risk here, pulling back Demirovic as he tried to break through. Easily could've been seen as a red for last man, but Kempf coming around from the side has perhaps saved the summer signing here.
© IMAGO/nordphoto GmbH / Straubmeier/IMAGO/Nordphoto
19'
Niggly
There's been quite a few fouls early on stopping the rhythm. The latest goes Hertha's way. Plattenhardt delivers from deep on the left but Kempt heads off target. Uremovic was maybe better placed there.
11'
Hertha on the ball
Possession (%)
4258
7'
Sails over
Caligiuri over a free-kick wide on the left, but it's a bit of a waste as he sails it over the crossbar with bodies in the middle.
5'
Active Kanga
The summer signing is looking lively early on. He gets his head to a Plattenhardt corner but it's going off target before it's cleared. Positive start from the still winless Berliners.
3'
The Kanga press
The Hertha forward is leading the attacking press and almost catches Gikiewicz in possession as he takes his time. Luckily for the Augsburg goalkeeper, the ball squirms away to a teammate.
Kick-off!
TEAMS IN THE TUNNEL
The players are about to emerge at the WWK Arena. Kick-off only moment away...
SCHWARZ: "YOU HAVE TO ASSERT YOURSELF!"
Maaßen's Hertha counterpart, Schwarz, also expects a tough encounter today and has called on his players to "assert themselves" on the game, saying: "I expect a very competitive duel. So far Augsburg have used a back three in every game of the season, they are very man-oriented, especially in the centre. You have to assert yourself!"
MAAßEN: "WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL"
Ausgburg boss Maaßen spoke pre-match of his ambition to play on the front foot today, but he remains wary of the threat the visitors pose. He said: "We have to and want to pin the opponent in our own penalty area. Hertha have three fast guys up front with a lot of speed, we'll have to carefully protect our own attacks and shouldn't allow ourselves to lose the ball easily."
0:08
WATCH: INSIDE THE HOME DRESSING ROOM
BERISHA STARTS OVER VARGAS
It was a top up between Vargas and Barisha as to who would partner Demirovic up top for the hosts and they've gone for new arrival Berisha, who makes his debut. Further back, Iago misses out, which means Daniel Caligiuri should start on the right and Mads Pedersen moves out to the left.
NO KPB
Kevin-Prince Boateng misses out altogether with a muscular injury for Hertha, who bring Filip Uremovic and Ivan Sunjic back into their starting XI today. Otherwise, it's very much as you where from the visitors' perspective.
AUGSBURG SUBS
Klein, Niederlechner, Baumgartlinger, Vargas, Petkov, Hahn, Framberger, Zehntner
AUGSBURG STARTING XI
Gikiewicz - Bauer, Gouweleeuw (c), Gumny - Caligiuri, Maier, Gruezo, Rexhbecaj, Pedersen - Demirovic, Berisha
HERTHA SUBS
Ernst, Pekarik, Darida, Selke, Boëtius, Maolida, Mittlestädt, Richter, Dardai
HERTHA STARTING XI
Christensen - Kenny, Uremovic, Kempf, Plattenhardt (c) - Sunjic, Tousart, Serdar - Lukebakio, Kanga, Ejuke
2:03
WATCH: LAST TIME OUT: HERTHA 0-1 BORUSSIA DORTMUND
2:03
WATCH: LAST TIME OUT: HOFFENHEIM 1-0 AUGSBURG
SCWARZ'S JUGGLING ACT
Hertha boss Sandro Schwarz is still in search of his first win in the role after the club were also beaten by second division Eintracht Braunschweig in the DFB Cup this week. He's got a number of injury concerns for the trip to Augsburg but there is good news in the form of defender Filip Uremovic returning to the squad after serving a one-match ban.
WILL VARGAS START FOR AUGSBURG?
Ruben Vargas missed the first two league games of 2022/23 with a muscular problem, but has been used as a second-half substitute in the last two and could partner Ermedin Demirovic in attack. New signing Mergim Berisha is also an option. Meanwhile, defenders Reece Oxford and Felix Uduokhai remain on the sidelines, while Freddy Jensen is touch and go having suffered a training-ground collision.
EARLY SIX POINTER?
With the hosts on three points after one win and three losses, and the so far winless visitors on one, this has all the trappings of an early relegation six-pointer. Victory for the hosts would move them above RB Leipzig and into 11th, while defeat could potentially leave them in the relegation playoff place. As for the visitors, Hertha can leapfrog Augsburg if they pick up a first win of the campaign but defeat will leave them firmly in trouble in second from bottom. All the play for.
WELCOME TO AUGSBURG VS. HERTHA!
Hello and a very warm welcome to our live coverage of Augsburg vs. Hertha Berlin. The action will get underway at the WWK ARENA at 3.30pm CEST, with teams news dropping approximately an hour before that so set your alarms now!