Hertha Berlin edge out Bayer Leverkusen to bolster position in race for Europe

Hertha Berlin won the battle of fifth against sixth to move five points clear of Bayer Leverkusen with a 2-1 triumph at the Olympiastadion.Vladimir Darida put the Old Lady in front, but Javier Hernandez's eighth goal in his last 10 games brought Leverkusen level.They had been playing with 10 men since the 17th minute when Sebastian Boenisch was sent off, and they were beaten by John Anthony Brooks' header on the hour mark, dropping to eighth ahead of a crucial Champions League clash with Barcelona on Wednesday.Champions League football could be on its way back to the Olympiastadion next season given the form Hertha are currently in.Per Skjelbred and Vedad Ibisevic combined well to set up Darida to beat Bernd Leno and give them the lead after just six minutes.Leverkusen's day took another turn for the worse 10 minutes later when Boenisch was shown a straight red card after sliding in with an outstretched leg at Yanni Regasel.A chink of light arrived for the Werkself from Hernandez, who brought them level when he latched onto Admir Mehmedi's pass and turned his low shot past Rune Jarstein into the bottom right-hand corner.A Jonathan Tah effort from long range landed on the top of the crossbar as Leverkusen threatened to take the lead, but it was mainly Hertha asking the questions.Salomon Kalou shot just wide of the right-hand post as he slipped late in the first half, but their efforts were rewarded early in the second period.Omer Toprak nearly scored own goal, but the real punishment was to follow from the corner he conceded as Brooks rose ahead of three Leverkusen players at the near post to head past Leno.Hertha had chances to add a third, with Brooks going closest, but they did not need another goal to put five points between themselves and Bayer.