Hertha display championship credentials

Hertha BSC Berlin sent a warning to the 1.Bundesliga's traditional giants after lifting the German League Cup last night with a 4-1 demolition of FC Schalke 04.

Championship intent
The Berlin side impressed last season with a fourth-place finish to clinch a UEFA Cup spot behind the big three - champions BV Borussia Dortmund, runners-up Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern München - and their convincing pre-season signals an intention to secure more silverware in the forthcoming campaign.

Big three defeated
Pertinently, the side have defeated all three of their major rivals this summer. Hertha beat Dortmund 2-1 in the semi-final of the cup competition after eliminating Bayern in the quarter-finals and previously beating Leverkusen. There can be no doubt that the arrival of new coach Huub Stevens, who has replaced interim appointment Andreas Thom, has had an immediate impact.

Brazilian procession
Stevens was delighted with the manner of the Old Lady's performance against Schalke - in front of 10,000 fans at Bochum's Ruhr stadium - and looked on admiringly as his Brazilian contingent stole the show in what turned out to be a procession. Playmaker Marcelinho opened the scoring on 32 minutes with a stunning strike and fellow countryman Alex Alves made it 2-0 a minute later. Although Schalke briefly threatened to get back in to the match when Nigerian striker Victor Agali scored on 61 minutes, it was all over when Marcelinho hit his second. Portuguese midfield player Robert Pinto then completed the rout when he slammed in late on.

Potent attack
Ominously, Hertha have already added FIFA World Cup winner Luizao to their ranks - the Brazilian signed from Grêmio Porto Alegre in the summer - and that acquisition undoubtedly spells danger for their rivals. The Olympiastadion outfit are now in possession of one of the most potent attacks in the Bundesliga with South American flair and Hertha's meticulously organised style sure to prove a winning combination.

Early doldrums for Dortmund
Hertha actually play in the Bundesliga curtain-raiser on 9 August against champions Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion, and as things stand, it is certainly the Dortmund coach who has more to worry about. Matthias Sammer is unhappy with the fitness of new midfield recruits Torsten Frings and Argentinian Juan Ramon Fernandez, plus Brazilians Marcio Amoroso and Ewerthon.

Off the pace
Bayern's new signings are in various stages of rehabilitation and are set to be off the pace for some time. Michael Ballack needs intensive training to reach an adequate condition, Sebastian Deisler faces at least another two months on the sidelines as he bids to recover from a serious knee injury and Zé Roberto is struggling with a groin strain.

Franca out
Leverkusen, meanwhile, face the hard task of replacing Ballack and Zé Roberto - two of the stars of last season's domestic and European title challenge. Initially they will have to do so without Brazilian playmaker Franca, the man brought in from FC São Paulo for €8.5m to help plug the gap, after he picked up an ankle injury in pre-season training.