Hamburg vs Hertha Berlin preview - Stieber to face Dardai's Hertha

Posted Thursday, March 19, 2015 by PA

Zoltan Stieber will be playing against his national team coach this Friday night when Hamburg host Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga.

The Hungarian forward should be part of the Hamburg team to face a Hertha side led by Pal Dardai, who is also coach of the Hungary national team and has called Stieber up for the Euro 2016 qualifier with Greece on March 29.

"It's an extraordinary situation," said Stieber in the Hamburger Morgenpost, revealing that it was not Dardai himself who called him to say he was included in the national team squad, but his assistant.

He is unlikely to have any contact with Dardai until after Friday's match, which is crucial to both clubs.

"I can't imagine it being an attractive match," said Hamburg coach Josef Zinnbauer, whose side are just two points above the relegation zone and one behind their guests.

"It's going to be a hard-fought, tight game."

Dardai hopes to have Pierre-Michel Lasogga back to partner Ivica Olic in his side's attack, although goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny is suspended and will be replaced by Rene Adler.

Ronny is unlikely to lead the Hertha attack with the club's general manager Michael Preetz saying his three-game spell on the bench is set to continue.

"Ronny had a chance against Freiburg, but to be honest, he didn't take it," Preetz told the Berliner Zeitung newspaper. "He's got to be patient now.

"We're in need of different qualities in our games now. I think other games will come when we will need his qualities.

"He's got to get himself into the condition that he can help the team."

Salomon Kalou has instead been preferred to lead the Hertha attack and the Ivory Coast forward is set to be given Dardai's faith once again.