Luka Jovic will be hoping to add to his joint-league-leading tally of ten Bundesliga goals when Eintracht Frankfurt seek a return to winning ways at Hertha Berlin on Saturday (kick-off 6:30pm CET/5:30pm GMT/12:30am ET).
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Frankfurt's seven-game unbeaten run and impressive streak of five straight wins in all competitions was brought rudely to a halt by Wolfsburg last weekend, but Jovic's late strike in the 2-1 defeat was more than just a footnote. The Serbia international forward now has ten for the 2018/19 campaign, putting him level at the top of the Bundesliga's scoring charts with Borussia Dortmund's Paco Alcacer. It still did not stop coach Adi Hütter from accusing his team of "playing scruffily" and of not being "as clinical as in recent months."
While Hütter will be without David Abraham (calf) and Allan (knee), his Hertha counterpart, Pal Dardai, also has key players, such as Javairo Dilrosun (thigh), Niklas Stark (ankle), Karim Rekik (thigh) and Lukas Klünter (thigh) on the sidelines as he attempts to extend his team's fragile recovery. A five-game winless run undid much of the promise caused by the capital club's start to the season, but four points from their last two games has kept them in touch with the top six. The returns of Czech Republic international midfielder Vladimir Darida (knee) and Jovic's compatriot, Marko Grujic (back), will bolster Berlin's cause.
Probable line-ups
Hertha: Jarstein – Lazaro, Lustenberger, Torunarigha, Plattenhardt – Grujic, Maier – Leckie, Duda, Kalou – Ibisevic (c)Out: Dilrosun (thigh), Klünter (thigh), Stark (foot)Coach: Pal Dardai
Frankfurt: Trapp – Russ, Hasebe, N’Dicka – Da Costa, De Guzman, Fernandes (c), Kostic – Rebic – Haller, JovicOut: Abraham (calf), Allan (ankle), Chandler (knee), Paciencia (knee), Torro (pubic bone)Coach: Adi Hütter