Hertha BSC is clinging to the last straw: Berlin's bottom of the table won 2-1 (2-1) in the pre-decisive relegation duel with direct rivals VfB Stuttgart and thus kept at least a spark of hope for relegation in the Bundesliga.

Marc-Oliver Kempf (29') and Florian Niederlechner (45'+2) scored the important goals after eight games without a win. With now 25 points on the account, however, the situation is still precarious for Hertha, who had only saved themselves in the relegation last year. In the remaining three games, the capital club is still under pressure and at the same time has to hope for blunders from the competition.

Hertha with "winning mentality"

Serhou Guirassy (38') scored the goal for Stuttgart, who are still in the thick of the fight to stay in the league after their first league defeat under coach Sebastian Hoeness. With 28 points, VfB can't breathe a sigh of relief either.

Hertha coach Pal Dardai had unmistakably set the course for a Berlin rescue before the game: "Four games, four wins." Against Stuttgart, he had to "send out a team that has the winning mentality and can cope with the pressure".

Meanwhile, Hoeneß had stressed that he and his team were "energetic, positive, powerful" and full of optimism despite the defeat in the semi-finals of the DFB Cup against Eintracht Frankfurt (2:3). At the same time, the VfB coach had warned that Hertha could be "unpleasant", especially at home.

Richter crosses, Kempf scores

After an initial probing, however, Stuttgart, who had to do without defender Konstantinos Mavropanos due to injury, came dangerously in front of goal and challenged Hertha keeper Oliver Christensen right in the early stages. Berlin tried to control the game and got the first good opportunity through Lucas Tousart, the shot went just past the left (12th). A little later, Dodi Lukebakio (14th) also pulled away.

Hertha now found their way into the game better and better, Kempf rewarded the offensive efforts after a cross from Marco Richter and scored with a header to take the lead. Stuttgart pushed for the equaliser, Guirassy was finally successful from close range. The answer followed shortly before half-time through Niederlechner, who pushed the ball over the line in the fray.

After the break, Stuttgart continued to look for a way forward. But Hertha defended fiercely, VfB could not find a way through in an intense game.