Hamburg ´sensational´ on Bundesliga return

Hertha Berlin head coach Jos Luhukay has hailed his team’s ‘sensational performance’ in their return to the Bundesliga.

Luhukay led Hertha to the German second-tier title last season and in their first fixture back in the Bundesliga on Saturday, the capital club destroyed Eintracht Frankfurt 6-1 at Berlin’s Olympiastadion.

Adrian Ramos and Sami Allagui both notched braces for Hertha as Berlin piled on the goals against the club that finished sixth in the Bundesliga in 2012/13.

Luhukay was thrilled with the performance, although he maintained Hertha will not bask in the glory for too long ahead of a long season in Germany’s top tier.

“We tried every minute, Frankfurt could not get into a rhythm,” the 50-year-old Dutchman said.

“The performance was sensational.

“We now have the first three points.

“Now we can enjoy a bit of the game but we will quickly return to our everyday life.

“We can still improve a bit. The beginning is successful, now we want to build on it.”

Elsewhere, Hannover won 2-0 at home over local rivals Wolfsburg, who finished the game with nine men after having a player sent off in each half.

Maximilian Arnold and Timm Klose both saw red for Wolfsburg.

Danish midfielder Leon Andreasen gave the home side the lead on 17 minutes with a powerful drive, while Szabolcs Huszti wrapped up the three points for Hannover in the 84th minute with a fine finish through the legs of Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio.

Hannover head coach Mirko Slomka paid tribute to Andreasen’s resilience after the 30-year-old Dane played just his second Bundesliga match since September last year.

“I am insanely pleased for Leon Andreasen that, after his long injury break, he scored the important opening goal for us,” Slomka said.

“In the second half, we got a bit scared and retreated.

“In addition, we did not use the counter opportunities consistently, but then, thank God, still made it 2-0 early.

“Otherwise, it would certainly have become wild again.”