A pivotal relegation battle at the bottom of the Bundesliga table will take place at Bielefelder Alm as Arminia Bielefeld play host to Hertha Berlin.
Arminia currently sit 17th in the standings, two points adrift of the relegation playoff position and six points behind Hertha in 15th place with just three league games remaining.
Match preview
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Following the dismissal of head coach Frank Kramer on April 20, Arminia Bielefeld were unable rectify their miserable run of form as they suffered a 3-1 away defeat against Koln at the weekend.
After Mark Uth had given the hosts an early lead, Die Arminen drew level thanks to a Timo Hubers own goal in the 33rd minute. However, it took just 10 minutes for Koln to retake the lead through Anthony Modeste before Jan Thielmann added a third in the closing stages, condemning Arminia to their 15th league defeat of the season.
Goalkeeping coach Marco Kostmann, who has been put in caretaker charge for the rest of the season, is the man tasked with steering Arminia to safety and maintaining their top-flight status for a third successive season.
Arminia have failed to win any of their last eight Bundesliga matches and have picked up fewer points (one) than any other German top-flight club during that period. Die Arminen have also scored just three times in their last 10 league games, which is the fewest of any side in Europe's top-five leagues.
Kostmann needs to immediately find a way to turn the club's fortunes around if they are to have any hope of survival. Defeat to Hertha on Saturday would mean that they could not finish any higher than the relegation playoff position.
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While Arminia's chances of avoiding the drop are seemingly slim, Hertha Berlin have taken a major leap towards survival after claiming successive league victories without conceding.
A slender 1-0 win away at Augsburg two weeks ago was followed by a 2-0 success at home against Stuttgart last Sunday, with Davie Selke and Ishak Belfodil both on the scoresheet.
Die Alte Dame are now enjoying a manager bounce under Felix Magath, who has guided his new club to three wins in the last five games; Hertha had only won twice in their previous 17 league matches prior to the 68-year-old's appointment.
Hertha are now in pole position to survive as they sit four points clear of the relegation playoff position, and victory against Arminia on Saturday would see them avoid the drop if Stuttgart were also to lose against Wolfsburg.
Success at Bielefelder Alm is not guaranteed for Hertha, however, as they suffered a 1-0 defeat away at Arminia last season.
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Team News
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Arminia Bielefeld trio Cedric Brunner (concussion), Fabian Klos (fractured skull) and Bryan Lasme (knee) are all ruled out due to injury, while Fabian Kunze (spine) and Jacob Laursen (thigh) are both doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Even though Die Arminen have failed to win since February, Kostmann is unlikely to make too many changes, if any, to his starting lineup, with Alessandro Schopf, Masaya Okugawa and Patrick Wimmer all set to retain their places in advanced positions behind central striker Janni Luca Serra.
As for Hertha Berlin, Stefan Jovetic (muscle), Rune Jarstein (knee) and Alexander Schwolow (thigh) are all sidelined with injuries, while Marvin Plattenhardt (groin), Lukas Klunter (shoulder), Myzaine Maolida (knee) and Lee Dong-jun (ankle) are all doubtful.
Vladimir Darida will serve a one-match suspension, following an accumulation of yellow cards, and he is set to be replaced on the right flank by Marco Richter, who is available to return after serving his own one-game ban.
Experienced attacker Kevin-Prince Boateng has started the last two games in behind Selke, and the duo are expected to retain their partnership in the final third on Saturday.
Arminia Bielefeld possible starting lineup:
Ortega; Ramos, Pieper, Nilsson, Bello; Prietl, Vasiliadis; Wimmer, Schopf, Okugawa; Serra
Hertha Berlin possible starting lineup:
Lotka; Pekarik, Boyata, Kempf, Bjorkan; Tousart, Ascacibar; Richter, Boateng, Serdar; Selke
We say: Arminia Bielefeld 1-2 Hertha Berlin
Time is running out for Arminia and they head into Saturday's six-pointer under immense pressure to secure maximum points if they wish to climb out of the bottom two.
Hertha, meanwhile, will be motivated by the prospect of confirming their Bundesliga status, and with the momentum behind them, we can see Magath's men securing all three points.
