BERLIN (Reuters) - The atmosphere in the German capital caught fire 24 hours before the city derby for the first time in 42 years, bringing together Hertha Berlin and newly-promoted Bundesliga.
Founded in 1930 and 1931, Hertha Berlin was founded in 1892 and was one of the founders of the Bundesliga.
The history of the Union team in East Germany began in 1966, where they won the Eastern National Cup in 1968 and reached the final of the German Cup in 2001 after reunification.
Union's 80 million euro ($ 89 million) budget in the Bundesliga's first season is just over half of Herta's 140 euros.
Only 22,012 fans will be able to attend the match at the Andre Alten Forstere stadium, which has renewed the loyalty of the fans - which has less than a third of the Olympic stadium, which Hertha considers its main stadium.
In the table, however, the two teams are separated by just four points, with Herta in 11th place after a volatile start to the season, while Union sits atop relegation places with 15th.
"We know what the derby game means for our fans," said Union captain Christopher Tremel.
"The derby is very important for our fans," said Hertha's Vidad Ibisevic.
The two teams met four previous times in the second division in 2010/2011 and 2012/13, where Hertha won the two games held at home while drawing in both matches at the Union Stadium.
Meanwhile, the Hertha dispute in the Bundesliga was against the Borussia tennis team in 1974/1975 and 1976/1977, where they won their first three games but lost in the last 2-0 to Borussia Tennis.
"We play at home. Derby matches have their own rules. We have had good success lately," said Tremel.
Hertha, who has spent 37 years at the Bundesliga, wants to be the first team in Berlin.
"It's about winning the two games," said Hertha Berlin sports director Michael Pritz. "There is no doubt about that. That is our ambition."
"We want to show that we are the first team in the city," said winger Maximilian Mittelstad, who has been in Herta since the age of 15.
"We have to be prepared for anything. We cannot underestimate the one percent. They have already shown that they can play in the Bundesliga."
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