Hertha Berlin vs Hamburg Odds & Prediction – Bundesliga Relegation Playoff Leg 1

• It’s Hertha Berlin vs Hamburg in the two-legged Bundesliga relegation playoff
• The home side is a slight +133 favorite in the first leg, on Thursday, May 19, at 2:30 pm ET
• Read on for betting odds, a full preview and best bets for this crucial match

After dropping into the relegation playoff on the final day of the season, the Hertha Berlin players will now have to pick themselves up to take on a Hamburg team that missed out on automatic promotion to the Bundesliga by just three points.

Hamburg has been knocking on the door of the Bundesliga for some time now, having finished fourth in the second tier in three straight seasons. But if it is to finally breakthrough, it will come at the expense of Die Alte Dame, which has been in the German top flight since the 2013-14 season.

Hertha Berlin vs Hamburg Odds

Odds as of May 18th at Barstool Sportsbook

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Over/Under and Spread

Given that Hertha has won each of its past five meetings against Hamburg at the Olympiastadion Berlin, it is hardly surprising that the bookmakers have made it the favorite here, even if it is by the slightest of margins. Considering that it has scored at least twice in four of those five occasions, it does make the Over 2.5 goals odds of +108 a little surprising. However, for those considering the Asian handicap, Hertha is also at +140 for a spread of -0.5.

⚽️ @HerthaBSC_EN vs. @HSV_English – this is the relegation play-off! 🔥

Two games to decide who will be playing in the #Bundesliga next season, and who will be in #Bundesliga2… 🤯 who's hyped? pic.twitter.com/WFOrAyThKK

— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) May 18, 2022

History Somewhat On Hertha’s Side

Not only have Berlin enjoyed a decent track record at home against Hamburg, as detailed above, but as a current Bundesliga team – albeit one on the precipice – it is also following in the footsteps of success. In the last nine years, only one Bundesliga team has fallen into the second tier via the playoff in Germany, which would bode well for Hertha.

However, Hertha is one of only six Bundesliga clubs to suffer relegation via the playoff, losing 4-3 to Fortuna Dusseldorf in its only other appearance in 2011-12.

Familiar Foe for Felix Magath

For Hertha head coach Felix Magath, Thursday’s match will bring back many memories of his playing career. The former German World Cup midfielder played 10 seasons for Hamburg, helping it win the European Cup among other honors.

However, if Magath is to keep Hertha up in the Bundesliga, he will have to weave some managerial magic to do so. Berlin heads into Thursday’s crucial first leg with as many as nine players sidelined by injury, including possibly their top two goalkeepers.

Hungry Hamburg

Since suffering the first relegation in its 55-year history following the 2017-18 season, Hamburg has been desperately trying to claw its way back to the top flight. It has certainly come close, missing out on getting into the relegation/promotion playoff by a combined six points over the past three seasons.

The Red Shorts also come into the first leg on a roll, having won their past five league games to clinch the third spot in Bundesliga 2. They also did so riding an offensive wave, running up an aggregate score of 16-5 in those five matches. And though Hamburg has struggled in its past visits to Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, the team has played well on the road of late, winning its last three and scoring 11 goals in the process.

Robert Glatzel to Score Odds

If there’s one striker coming into this match looking to fill his boots, it’s the Hamburg hitman himself. Glatzel has scored six goals in his past eight games to help Hamburg to the third spot and scored his 22nd goal of the season last weekend as the team won 3-2 at Hansa Rostock.

𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐭 𝟐 🌍🔷

𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰 ➡ 𝘉𝘰𝘣𝘣𝘺 ➡ 𝘎𝘰𝘢𝘭 🔥🔥#nurderHSV #Glatzel pic.twitter.com/EwVYhY7cQB

— HSV English (@HSV_English) May 17, 2022

The 28-year-old is a +235 to score in the game, and at +600 to score the opening goal.

Hertha Berlin vs Hamburg Team Lineups and Injuries

Hertha Berlin Projected Lineup: Christensen; Pekarik, Boyata, Kempf, Plattenhardt; Tousart, Darida; Ekkelenkamp, Serdar, Mittelstadt; Jovetic.

Hertha Berlin Injuries: Ascacibar (Suspended), Dardai (Injured), Jarstein (Injured), Klunter (Injured), Lee (Injured), Schwolow (Injured), Gechter (Illness), Lotka (Injured), Selke (Injured), Stark (Illness).

Hamburg Lineup: Fernandes; Heyer, Vuskovic, Schonlau, Muheim; Reis, Meffert, Kittel; Jatta, Glatzel, Vagnoman.

Hamburg Injuries: Leibold (Injured), Suhonen (Injured).

Hertha Berlin vs Hamburg 2021-22 German League Stats

Hertha Berlin vs Hamburg Best Bet

With so much to play for, this first leg is likely to be seen a feeling-out process, with both teams unfamiliar with each other. However, given the spate of injuries currently ravaging Hertha, and the rich vein of form that Hamburg finds itself in, I can only see one winner here.

Best bet: Hamburg (+190)