The neighbors from Köpenick cheered again in the Olympic Stadium in their curve, the Hertha pros only slowly crept to their fans. Individual beer mugs flew, there were whistles, but there was no great anger in the East Stand. Maybe that was also due to the sometimes leaden derby in the freezing cold.

The Charlottenburgers have now lost five city duels in a row, at the start of the second half of the season with 0:2 (0:1). With 14 meager points, Hertha is in 17th place. Again a relegation battle. "The energy was dead against Wolfsburg. We gave everything today, but it wasn't enough," said Hertha goalkeeper Oliver Christensen, who was the last to leave the crowd.

Unlike the violent smack against VfL Wolfsburg (0:5), the blue and whites cannot be accused of a lack of commitment or willingness. The players were poisonous in the duels in front of 74,667 spectators, pricked Union in counter-pressing. But: They could only bring their rivals, who felt like they were on the back burner, into real danger in very few situations. Hertha simply lacked offensive ideas, precision and power.

"They scored two goals from two chances"

You could see that the team was fighting, "that we can keep up against the second in the table," said midfielder Marco Richter. "The bottom line is that we have one more defeat in a home game. That's all the more bitter."

Because it happened, as it often happens in games like this. Free kick Christopher Trimmel, goal Danilho Doekhi (44th minute). Paul Seguin (67th) used the first reasonable counterattack to make a preliminary decision for the favorite. "They scored two goals from two chances, we also had two chances but didn't score any goals. That's the difference in this game," said Christensen. "You can see why we're second to bottom and Union second in the table: it's effectiveness."

Viewed soberly and away from all derby emotions, it says: The second in the table in the Bundesliga wins 2-0 against a relegation candidate despite a moderate performance. In the style of a top team.

Union does not see itself as a top team

Midfielder Rani Khedira didn't want to say that Union has earned this title. As usual, his trainer Urs Fischer remained cautious. His team was efficient. "If I look at the whole 90 minutes, I wouldn't call it a top team," said the Swiss. But that is exactly what is said about them. That they also win the games in which they don't come close to their ability to perform and score goals from a few situations.

The ice-cold Köpenicker remain the first pursuer of FC Bayern Munich with 36 points. "That's not so wrong," as goal scorer Seguin said in typical Union understatement. "But we know where we come from. That's hard work, that we work hard on it." A new goal for the season will only be discussed in Köpenick after the 40 points have been reached, which doesn't have to take too long.

Marco Richter supports coach Sandro Schwarz

In Berlin's Westend, on the other hand, the question arises as to whether the team is good enough to hold the class. "Of course the quality is enough, we're just not showing it at the moment. We've played a lot of good games and the same players are there," said midfielder Marco Richter. "This is the time of the season when everything is difficult." He didn't want to let anything come to Coach Sandro Schwarz. "We also have a lot of trust in the coach," said the 25-year-old.

After a "crappy week" with bankruptcies in Bochum and against Wolfsburg, Schwarz saw an improved performance. "Nevertheless, we are also aware that you need results and points in our situation."

At least the Unioners want to make their contribution to the relegation of the rival, just because of the atmospheric derbies. "We're trying to get as many points as possible. If we help Hertha with that, all the better," said Fischer.