Werder Bremen vs Wolfsburg Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Werder Bremen have the chance to extend their unbeaten run in the Bundesliga to five matches against a Wolfsburg side who’ve lost four of their last five league games.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC iPlayer / US – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – BBC Sport website and BBC iPlayer / US – ESPN+
Werder Bremen preview: Creeping towards Europe
Werder Bremen are quietly starting to edge their way towards the European places after a run of two wins and two draws over the course of their most recent four Bundesliga fixtures. The most recent of those games saw them draw 1-1 away at Mainz but their last home match ended in a 1-0 victory over Union Berlin.
When taking into account that their last defeat came away to runaway league leaders Bayern Munich, that underlines how tough they’ve been to get the better of recently. Three points here would move them up to seventh-place ahead of Saturday’s Bundesliga fixtures.
Wolfsburg preview: Defensive disasters
Wolfsburg’s clean sheet and 0-1 triumph away to Hamburg feels like a false dawn after they fell to a thrilling but infuriating 2-3 defeat against Hoffenheim last weekend. The fact that they opened the scoring in that game makes it every more frustrating for a Wolfsburg point of view and a loss here could see them in danger of slipping down the table.
The most obvious issue facing Wolfsburg is their fragile backline and who cannot seem to stop leaking goals. They’ve now conceded three times in three of their last four league matches, the only outlier being that win over an out-of-form Hamburg.
Werder Bremen team news: Several absentees
Werder Bremen are expected to be missing up to five players for this contest through injury, including centre-back Max Wober, right-back Mitchell Weiser and the versatile Niklas Stark.
Predicted XI: (4-2-3-1): Backhaus; Sugawara, Pieper, Coulibaly, Friedl; Stage, Bittencourt; Grull, Schmid, Mbangula; Boniface
Unavailable: Agu (Injured), Deman (Injured), Stark (Injured), Weiser (Injured), Wober (Injured)
Questionable:
Wolfsburg team news: Jenz back
Centre-back Moritz Jenz has recovered from injury and may well return to the starting line-up here for the visitors. However, the trio of Bence Dardai, Yannick Gerhardt and Lovro Majer are all doubtful.
Predicted XI: (4-2-3-1): Grabara; Kumbedi, Jenz, Koulierakis, Zehnter; Arnold, Gerhardt; Daghim, Eriksen, Wimmer; Amoura
Unavailable: Fischer (Injured), Lindstrom (Injured), Maehle (Injured), Paredes (Injured), Rogerio (Injured)
Questionable: Dardai (Injured), Gerhardt (Injured), Majer (Injured)
Werder Bremen vs Wolfsburg prediction
Wolfsburg proved that they are capable of going on the road and winning when they collected three points at the Volksparkstadion only two weeks ago. However, Werder Bremen are in-form, confidence among the squad is high and they boast the attacking players capable of punishing the defensive deficiencies currently plaguing the visitors.
With momentum and home advantage in their favour, Werder Bremen are well-placed to continue their positive recent run of results. Backing them to come out on top here over Wolfsburg and move into the top eight is a play worth making.
Werder Bremen vs Wolfsburg tip: Werder Bremen to win
