Hertha face Haaland in final push for Bundesliga survival

(FILES) In this file photo taken on October 16, 2021 Dortmund’s Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haaland vies for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match BVB Borussia Dortmund v Mainz 05 in Dortmund, western Germany. – Manchester City said Tuesday, May 10, they had reached an agreement in principle with Borussia Dortmund to sign striker Erling Haaland. (Photo by Ina Fassbender / AFP) /

Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland will be out to make his final mark on the Bundesliga this Saturday by breaking Hertha Berlin hearts on the last day of a gruelling relegation fight.

Norwegian star Haaland will make his last appearance for Dortmund against Hertha this weekend before completing a long-awaited move to Manchester City for the start of next season.

While the game is a dead rubber for second-placed Dortmund, Haaland and his team-mates could still condemn Hertha to the relegation play-off place.

Hertha are currently three points adrift of safety, but their inferior goal difference means they could still slip behind third-from-bottom Stuttgart if they lose to Dortmund.

Having not won in Dortmund since 2013, the outlook is bleak for the embattled capital club.

Hertha coach Felix Magath has said his team are “prepared” for the worst case scenario of being forced into the relegation play-offs.

“I’ve been prepared for this scenario since the day I arrived,” said Magath, who was brought in to save Hertha in March, in an interview with Bild newspaper on Tuesday.

Stuttgart’s American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, meanwhile, has said his side will “get our bit of the job done” when they take on Cologne.

Matarazzo has been under mounting pressure in a turbulent third year in charge of the club, as his side