Thanks to Marvin Ducksch, Werder Bremen have taken a big step towards staying in the league and have put another heavy damper on the reeling bottom of the table Hertha BSC with the return of Pal Dardai to the coach's bench. Even without their best striker Niclas Füllkrug, Bremen won 4-2 (2-0) in the sold-out Olympic Stadium on Saturday to the delight of their thousands of fans. For Ole Werner's team, Ducksch decided the game with three goals (6th, 27th and 51st minutes). Former Hertha player Mitchell Weiser increased the lead to 4-0 (63rd) before Jessic Ngankam (68th) and Dodi Lukebakio (78th minute, foul penalty) scored Berlin's goals.

In front of 74,667 spectators, the Berliners, who have now been winless for seven games, with Dardai returning less than a week after parting ways with Sandro Schwarz, could not recover from the early goal and showed signs of dissolution at times. The task for the Hungarian, who led the Berliners to stay in the league in 2015 and 2021, is now even more difficult. After the third defeat in a row, the Berliners remain at the bottom of the table. Next Sunday, Hertha also have to go to serial champions Bayern Munich (15.30 p.m. / DAZN).

After the success, Bremen have 35 points to their name, which in recent years have often been enough to stay in the Bundesliga. After six games without a win, each with at least two goals conceded, they managed to score three goals again. Werder's next clash with a relegation candidate is next Saturday at Schalke 04 (18:30 CET/Sky).

Actually, the ambience was right at Dardai's return. With bright sunshine and temperatures above twenty degrees, the Olympic Stadium was sold out for the third time this season. A strong backdrop, even though more than ten thousand people from Bremen had arrived with their team and made themselves clearly noticeable. In addition, Werder Füllkrug was again absent due to calf problems. The Berlin annex admonished his team in the stadium with a large banner: "Tear yourselves apart for Hertha BSC!" Only after the warm-up did the fans come to the east corner.

Dardai's "request to go up" during the week for the little bit of luck to take the lead in a packed stadium was not granted. Lukebakio failed in the third minute after a beautiful pass from Marco Richter to Werder keeper Jiri Pavlenka.

Shortly thereafter, the good mood among the Blue and Whites was gone. Lucas Tousart was left in midfield after a collision. No Herthaner closed the gap, so Jens Stage was able to run unchallenged towards the defensive chain. Ducksch completed his pass into the interface with the visitors' first shot on goal.

From then on, Hertha acted with the uncertainty of being at the bottom of the table. Simple passes did not arrive, misunderstandings piled up in defence. The switch to a back four in defence fizzled out, as did the inclusion of the young and fast Ngankam and Derry Scherhant.

Christian Groß was able to cross undisturbed, and Ducksch also faced no resistance with his header for his tenth goal of the season. It was thanks to Bremen's negligent handling of their numerous chances that the half-time lead was not even higher. Loud whistles from the Ostkurve were offset by great cheers from the Werder fans.

It didn't get any better after the break. After a cross from Anthony Jung, Ducksch was able to calmly receive the ball with his chest and shoot in precisely. Weiser took advantage of a misunderstanding between substitute Agustin Rogel and goalkeeper Oliver Christensen. Hertha's run and goals from Ngankam and Lukebakio came too late.