Funkel sees change in fortunes after Bayer draw

(GSM) – Hertha BSC Berlin may have surged to an impressive 4th position in the Bundesliga last term, but a disastrous start to the season has seen them lying at bottom of the table after 16 Rounds of the 2009/10 season.

With high flying league leaders Bayer Leverkusen visiting the Olympic Stadium on Friday night, things looked bleak for the Berliners especially for coach Friedhelm Funkel.

Berlin seemed to be heading for their 13th defeat of the season when Burak Kaplan put Leverkusen 2-1 up going into stoppage time, but Adrian Ramos equalised with almost the final touch of the game to earn a point.

And all of this came to fruition in front of the home crowd when the Blue-Whites were down to ten men, it seems luck has turned good for a struggling side that was full of promise before the start of the season.

At least Funkel believes that his sides’ fortunes have changed.

“I hope that we have managed to win back a bit of fortune with that deserved equaliser in the 92nd minute,” said Funkel.

“We need it if we want to start our recovery in January.”

Berlin still lie six points adrift at the bottom of the table with one game remaining before the midway stage of the season is reached.

Leverkusen extended their lead at the top of the table to four points and their coach Jupp Heynckes had no complaints about dropping two points at the death.

“Hertha deserved the draw with their 92nd-minute equaliser,” he said.

“The game shows that it is not easy when you are the leaders playing against the bottom club.”

Berlin require a similar result against Sporting Lisbon in midweek to secure their passage to the last 32 of the UEFA Europa League before ending the year with a trip to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.

Leverkusen’s final task of 2009 comes against Borussia Monchengladbach next Saturday when a win would clinch the unofficial title of autumn champions.