Werder Bremen
Werder Bremen’s last game was a weird one.
On the road against last-place FC Heidenheim, there was some pressure on Bremen to pick up another win and really start their ascent up the Bundesliga standings. Instead, they fell flat to open up the contest.
They were second to any loose balls, and they failed to complete a number of simple passes. Credit needs to be given to the hosts, as they were the opposite. They flew out the gate, pressing the opposition high up the pitch and chasing down whoever had the ball.
That’s why it was a surprise to see Werder take the lead early on in the second half. Marco Grüll dribbled down the wing, somehow pulled off a wonderful piece of skill, and then squeezed the ball past the keeper at the near post.
A defensive mistake allowed Stefan Schimmer to ultimately slot home for Heidenheim midway through the half, but Jens Stage restored Bremen’s advantage only two minutes later. It looked like the away side were set to sit back and hold on to the victory.
Instead, FCH equalized once again when Jonas Föhrenbach headed the ball into the back of the net. There was enough time for either team to push forward in search of a winner, but instead they settled for a draw.
As a result the Green-Whites come into this contest in 12th place. Things are still very tight in the table, as they’re only three points away from 6th place FC Koln, but they’re also only a point in front of St. Pauli in 14th place.
It’s unclear whether this current Werder outfit are European contenders or potential relegation candidates, but matches like these will go a long way in deciding their fate come the end of the campaign. Union Berlin aren’t one of the top-teams in Europe, and they’ll be at home under the floodlights of the Weserstadion.
Let’s see what Bremen is made of.
Team news
Werder are in the midst of an injury crisis at fullback, with Isaac Schmidt, Maximilian Wöber, Olivier Deman, Felix Agu, and Mitchell Weiser all unavailable for selection. It is unclear if centerback Niklas Stark will feature, either.
Predicted lineups
Backhaus, Sugawara, Pieper, Coulibaly, Freidl, Lynen, Stage, Mbangula, Schmid, Puertas, Boniface
Union Berlin
While Bremen had a weird game, Union Berlin has had a weird season.
They have wins over Eintracht Frankfurt and VfB Stuttgart, but they lost to Hoffenheim and tied Hamburg at home. Berlin’s goal differential is -3, yet they sit comfortably in 9th place. Two games saw 13 goals combined, and then they went through a 0-0 draw.
It’s hard to decipher who Die Eisernen are at the moment, and who they might become. What is clear is they have two attackers who viewers will have to keep a key eye on when this matchup kicks off.
Ilyas Ansah is the club’s top scorer, which is especially impressive considering he only joined in the summer from 2. Bundesliga side Paderborn, and that he’s just 20-years-old. He scored a brace on opening day, and then scored in consecutive games a few weeks later. The German youth international has cooled off, though, going scoreless in his last three.
The forward has quite the foot on him, and he’s a quality striker of the ball. That makes him a threat from distance, and his 6’4” frame makes him a danger in the box. He’s strong, he’s quick, and he can be a nightmare for defenders.
While Bremen might not know as much about him, they’ll know a lot more about the other frontman, Oliver Burke. He left them on a free transfer in the offseason, opting for a move to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
He’s rapid, he’s experienced, and he has a knack for finding the back of the net. That was on show in the win versus Frankfurt, where he scored a hat-trick against a quality opponent. The goals were as quick as he is, with them all coming in the span of 30 minutes.
While he left Bremen on decent terms, Burke will still be roaring at the chance to put one over on his old employers. If he can do that, or Ansah takes over instead, then Berlin will like their odds of securing another victory.
Team news
Andrik Markgraf and Robert Skov are out for Union, while Josip Juranovic and Livan Burcu are currently seen as doubts for the contest.
Predicted lineups
Ronnow, Doekhi, Querfeld, Leite, Trimmel, Khedira, Kremlin, Kohn, Burke, Ilic, Ansah
