Berlin on the brink of isolation again

During the Cold War, Berlin was divided from the rest of Europe by a huge fortified wall and the city could soon be returning to isolation as the continent's only major capital without a top flight football team.

Hertha Berlin remains the city's only representative in the Bundesliga but are teetering on the brink of relegation, essentially needing a minor miracle to stay up.

Stranded at the foot of the table on 23 points Hertha probably need to win all three of their remaining three matches - against top clubs Schalke 04, Bayer Leverkusen and league leaders Bayern Munich - to climb into a relegation play-off.

Freiburg currently occupy that spot on 28 points with Hanover 96 a point further back, but Hertha have not given up just yet.

"No one in the team is walking around with their heads down," Hertha official Gerd Graus said.

"The atmosphere in the team is very good and everyone knows exactly what needs to be done," the director of media added.

"The fighting spirit is there and do not forget that we have been playing under pressure since the winter break."

Hertha's first task is against second-placed Schalke 04 this week, an opponent chasing a first Bundesliga title for more than half a century.

After picking up a mere six points from 17 games in the first part of the season, the Berliners looked destined to go down without a fight.

However, the arrival of coach Friedhelm Funkel and some key transfers in the winter break saw the side pick up 17 points in 14 games since then, boasting the league's best defence in the process with just 12 goals conceded.

"Look at our defence, the best since December. Relegation or no relegation this is just hypothesis at the moment," Funkel said.