THEY ALMOST PULLED IT OFF! Baumjohann somehow squirts free in midfield and has nothing but green grass between him and Burki. The substitute lacks the pace to go through on goal, however, and tries to cut back inside of Sokratis, but the defender produces a vital intervention to send the ball behind.
90'
N. Stark enters the game and replaces J. Hegeler.
The hosts make their final change in an attempt to milk the clock down, with defender Niklas Stark on for midfielder Jens Hegeler.
There will be two minutes added on at the end of this match.
89'
A. Baumjohann enters the game and replaces S. Kalou.
The hosts make their second change, with Alexander Baumjohann replacing Salomon Kalou - and it appears as though another switch is imminent.
87'
Into the final three minutes now, and Hertha have set their sights on the draw. They have bodies back in numbers and Dortmund are struggling to navigate their way through on goal. Time is running out, and the capital club are on their way to a positive result in their pursuit of a Champions League place.
85'
Where's the end product?! Such great determination from Hummels who ventures way forward from his centre-half position to cause waves in attack. He keeps his run alive into the area, but his final ball is incredibly poor. That's a real wasted opportunity for the visitors.
83'
STAT: The Berlin side have already matched their tally of home wins from last term (6). They are also just two points shy of matching their home tally from 2014/15 (22).
81'
M. Ginter enters the game and replaces M. Reus.
That's the forward's last contribution of the afternoon as well, as he's replaced by Matthias Ginter. It's a surprisingly negative switch from Tuchel.
80'
Wide from Ramos! Maybe, just maybe, this is a sign of what's to come over the final 10 minutes! The tempo increases a bit and Dortmund carve out a chance at the other end through the cross of Reus, but Ramos is unable to direct his header on target.
78'
SO VERY CLOSE! Agonisingly near the opener for Hertha, who mount a real threatening counter following a Dortmund corner. Kalou runs half the length of the pitch and uses the runs of his team-mates to either side to open space for a shot, which he sends just inches beyond the far post with Burki rooted to his spot!
Minute
Description
76'
With each passing second it appears likelier that we are headed for a scoreless draw - and not because time is winding down so much as because neither side appears able to create much of anything from open play. We'll see if either throws caution to the wind as we approach the final 10 minutes.
74'
STAT: Borussia are just two points short of equalling their total for the whole of last season (46); Hertha are just one short of the 35 they amassed in 2014/15. They would surpass it with a win today.
72'
A. Ramos enters the game and replaces P. Aubameyang.
Aubameyang's day is also done, without much of a contribution from the striker. Adrian Ramos comes on to replace him.
71'
J. van den Bergh enters the game and replaces V. Ibišević.
C. Pulišić enters the game and replaces G. Castro.
The hosts make their first change, and it's a like-for-like swap with Johannes van den Bergh on in place of Vedad Ibisevic up top.
Dortmund make two changes of their own, the first of which sees Christian Pulisic replace Gonazlo Castro. The 17-year-old American made his senior debut for the club against Ingolstadt last weekend.
70'
NO PENALTY! Darida finds space on the left and whips a ball into the centre for Darida, who only makes weak contact with his first-time strike as Piszczek arrives from the back to intervene. There was clear contact, but it was a clean challenge from the right-back and the referee spotted it accordingly.
68'
Although their attempts will likely prove futile with Bayern seemingly unbeatable, but Dortmund need all three points to keep their slim title hopes alive. Otherwise, they should be headed for a comfortable second-place finish. For Hertha, it's crucial they claim at least a point from this match to continue their improbable pursuit of a Champions League place.
66'
When Hertha do grow into the game, however, it does hurt the tempo. From a neutral standpoint, there's more excitement with Dortmund on the front foot and the hosts relegated to the counter. With it being evenly contested, the ball hardly leaves the midfield third and chances prove few and far between.
64'
Hertha have rode out the wave of Dortmund pressure to start the second half and are once again growing in stature. Confidence is continuously building in their side the longer this game remains scoreless, and you get the sense that they fancy their chances of being able to nick all three points.
62'
STAT: Hertha have scored just five goals in their last nine home games against BVB, failing to score on six occasions.
60'
Plattenhardt to Hegeler has been a popular combination from set pieces this afternoon for the hosts. Again the full-back picks out his teammate from a free-kick, but the midfielder can't get enough mustard on his header to really trouble Burki.
58'
A ton of credit has to be given to the likes of Weiser and Plattenhardt. The two Hertha full-backs have yet to put a foot wrong in defence, never letting Reus or Mkhitaryan venture into the open space behind them. Their cover has helped to really frustrate Dortmund when on the front foot.
56'
Tuchel's side have absolutely dominated possession over the last five minutes, with Hertha dropping dangerously deep in defence. Dortmund's two full-backs are getting very far forward on the overlap, meaning there is space for Hertha to exploit on the counter, but they have been unable to muster anything of note since the restart.
54'
Dortmund are increasing the pressure and really appear to be inching closer to an opener. Mkhitaryan wins the ball back in a dangerous position in attack and has options in the centre, but Brooks is quick to get across and cut out the danger. Alert defending from the American.
52'
It just needed a touch! Mkhitaryan makes waves down the left and sends an inviting delivery across the face of goal, but it just eludes Aubameyang before Castro is late arriving at the far post. A slight tough towards goal and Dortmund would have had their breakthrough!
50'
STAT: Thomas Tuchel’s side have scored in each of their last 26 Bundesliga games, the longest current such run in the division. Their club record is 31 games, set in 2012/13.
48'
Hertha begin the second half on the front foot, but Dortmund are able to deal with things soundly at the back. The visitors look to hit back on the counter, but a smart foul from Haraguchi manages to stop Mkhitaryan in his tracks.
46'
Here we go again!
45'
HALF-TIME: HERTHA 0-0 DORTMUND.
43'
STAT: Dortmund (44 points) have the best record of any side sitting second in the Bundesliga table after 19 games. In fact, 43 of the last 52 champions have had a worse return after 19 matches than this BVB team.
41'
Ł. Piszczek gets yellow.
Piszczek becomes the second Dortmund player booked this half with a cynical tug of Kalou's shirt. The ex-Chelsea forward has put in some excellent running in this first half, proving a real handful for the BVB defence.
39'
Kalou does well to find space out wide and immediately turn up pitch. He's tripped up from behind, about 20 yards from the byline, presenting an excellent opportunity to whip a cross in from the ensuing free-kick - but Plattenhardt's delivery is collected by Burki.
37'
VITAL INTERVENTION! Gundogan is at it again, and continues to be the visitors' most consistent attacking threat in this first half. The midfielder dribbles his way into the area, rather impressively, and tries to square for Aubameyang, but Langkamp is able to stick a foot in to cut it out.
35'
Has to be better! Ibisevic puts in some excellent running to advance the ball into a threatening position and send in a cross, before Darida does well to keep play alive inside the area. Kalou is teed up for a shot inside the box, but he hesitates for a moment before sending a weak effort into the waiting arms of Burki.
33'
JARSTEIN HAS TO BE ALERT! The Hertha keeper is finally called into question from a corner. It's flicked on cleverly at the near post and attacked by Hummels, but the defender's header is pushed aside by Jarstein for another corner.
31'
STAT: Borussia Dortmund have won exactly half of their 28 Bundesliga meetings with Hertha Berlin since 2000 (14), losing just three of their last 12 encounters against the Old Lady.
29'
As we approach the half-hour mark, the match has entered its cagiest period yet. It has been over 10 minutes since the last real threatening attack from open play and these two defensive units really seem to have settled in accordingly.
27'
The visitors have slowed the tempo willingly, in order to try and keep the ball for an extended period and patiently build in attack. They're successful in holding possession, but an aimless ball forward in the end for Aubameyang to chase sees their spell come to nothing.
25'
Dortmund are struggling now to keep the ball and Tuchel is out at the edge of his touchline shouting instructions at his team. Hertha have packed bodies into midfield like sardines, making it difficult on the visitors to establish any sort of rhythm.
23'
Burki forced into action! Hertha continue to grow in stature and are inching closer towards negotiating the opener. Plattenhardt whips an inviting free-kick in from the right flank and it's met by Hegeler. The midfielder's header is sent bouncing towards the far post, but Burki gets across without much of an issue.
21'
STAT: Pal Dardai and Thomas Tuchel have identical points-per-Bundesliga-game averages (1.50).
19'
Hertha have looked confident and capable at the back and in midfield, but have largely failed to create much going forward. Kalou changes that with a determined run down the right flank to win a corner, and the subsequent delivery is sent crashing onto the roof of the net by Brooks!
17'
NEARLY THERE! Piszczek sprints to keep the ball in play at the byline and pulls it back into the centre where three yellow shirts are eagerly awaiting his service. Reus tries to get on the end of it, but Hegeler arrives in the nick of time to cut it out and break up the chance.
15'
Gundogan has been a real spark in midfield, winning everything coming his way and spraying some teasing passes forward. Aubameyang is interchanging well with both Reus and Mkhitaryan, with their movement giving Hertha plenty to think about in defence.
13'
There's a lovely tempo to this match thus far. Hertha look dangerous when they do get forward, and have a great understanding of one another as they pass the ball through midfield. Dortmund are enjoying more possession, though, and aren't afraid to commit bodies forward.
11'
STAT: Hertha (3rd) and Borussia (2nd) are separated by 10 points – the largest gap between second and third after 19 games in Bundesliga history.
9'
J. Weigl gets yellow.
Weigl has to be careful! Another poor challenge from the midfielder forces the referee to take action and issue the youngster a yellow inside of 10 minutes. He'll be walking a tight line the rest of the way.
7'
INCHES AWAY! Gundogan makes a towering run through the heart of midfield, and takes the opportunity to shoot with Weiser consistently backing off. He drives a powerful strike towards the near post, but it swerves narrowly wide with Jarstein appearing to be beaten.
5'
CHANCE! Hertha keep the pressure on following the free-kick, and the ball is cleverly worked into the path of Darida just inside the top of the box. The midfielder sends a stinging first-time shot at goal, but Burki is able to get his hands up to knock it down and collect.
3'
BVB start encouragingly, but the hosts mount an immediate response and Lustenberger wins a free-kick in the attacking half after Weigl lunges dangerously into a challenge. This is an early chance for Hertha to send some bodies forward and ask questions of the Dortmund defence.
1'
Dortmund get the game underway, attacking right to left.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Borussia Dortmund’s trip to the Olympiastadion to take on Hertha Berlin, in a surprise battle between two Champions League hopefuls. Thomas Tuchel’s side are having a remarkable season and are running away with second place. Almost any other year their current points return would see them atop the table, or at least close to it, but Bayern’s domestic dominance has them comfortably sitting at the summit. Dortmund are almost assured of returning to the Champions League next season, but a title challenge may be just out of their grasps.
Hertha have engineered an outstanding turnaround under Pal Dardai. They sit in third place with 34 points, one more than Gladbach who were third place at this venture last season. It’s even more of an accomplishment when you consider their position after 19 games a season ago, where they had just 18 points and were second from the bottom. There’s little time for them to pat themselves on the back, however, because the likes of Gladbach, Leverkusen and Schalke are hot on their heels. A Champions League place is very much theirs for the taking, but it will require laser-sharp focus to keep their form throughout the second half of the season.
Pal Dardai makes just one change to his starting line-up, following their entertaining 3-3 draw with Werder Bremen last weekend. Per Ciljan Skjelbred is suspended and is replaced in the team by Jens Hegeler, who partners skipper Fabian Lustenberger in the heart of midfield. Vedad Ibisevic leads the lines, flanked by Salomon Kalou and Genki Haraguchi, while Vlad Darida assumes the number 10 role.
Marco Reus had been given the green light to return to the team by doctors, and Thomas Tuchel hasn't hesitated in thrusting him right back into the starting line-up, at the expense of Shinji Kagawa, who is dropped from the team altogether in a rather surprising move from the bench boss. That's one of three changes made by Dortmund, with Marcel Schmelzer, Ilkay Gundogan and Gonzalo Castro replacing Erik Durm, Matthias Ginter and Adrian Ramos.
Scoreless in the capital after 45 minutes and it's probably the fairest result at this stage, with neither side able to generate much from open play. Both keepers have been called into action from corners, but otherwise it has been a rather tightly contested half of football at the Olympiastadion - still everything to play for in the second half!
The Old Lady strengthen their claim on a Champions League place as they hold Thomas Tuchel's side at the Olympiastadion. That's all for our live coverage from the capital, thanks for following along! Good bye.
Commentary
More…