In a crucial clash that will have significant ramifications on the battle for Europe and the race for survival in the Bundesliga, Werder Bremen will host VfL Bochum on Saturday at Weserstadion.
Ninth-placed Werder Bremen have 42 points and come into the game having beaten Stuttgart 2-1 on April 13, while the visitors are second last in 17th place with just 20 points and are nine points and two places from guaranteed safety.
Match preview
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The Green-Whites were evenly matched against Stuttgart until Nick Woltemade's dismissal saw their opponents reduced to 10 men in the 65th minute, after which the victors only faced one shot.
Werder Bremen have been in strong goalscoring form of late having found the back of the net 11 times in their last five games, as many as they had managed in their previous 10.
Head coach Ole Werner's side are only three points from sixth-placed Freiburg and four points from fifth-placed Mainz 05, who occupy the division's Conference League and Europa League qualification spots respectively.
Werner will be confident about his team's chances of victory on Saturday given they have won three consecutive matches while conceding just once.
Having said that, Werder Bremen's record at Weserstadion has room for improvement, with the hosts only emerging triumphant twice in their past six at home, losing on four occasions.
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Opponents Bochum somehow lost 2-1 against Augsburg on April 12 despite hitting the woodwork twice and producing three big chances while only facing one big chance themselves.
Die Blauen have conceded 14 goals in their last five games, though they did score six times in that period.
A defeat on the weekend against Werder Bremen, who they lost 1-0 against in the reverse fixture on December 7, would cement their place in the bottom three though they could still escape the drop via finishing in the league's 16th-placed relegation playoff spot.
The visitors are currently two points from the playoff spot, but having been beaten in each of their last four in the Bundesliga, that gap could grow by the end of the upcoming matchweek.
Manager Dieter Hecking has overseen more positive results away from home having led his side to one win, two draws and a defeat in their four most recent outings on the road, including a 3-2 victory against Bayern Munich on March 8.
Team News
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Defenders Derrick Kohn and Milos Veljkovic are Werder Bremen's only injury absentees, and that could mean regulars Niklas Stark, Marco Friedl and Amos Pieper will continue in a back three.
Jens Stage, Senne Lynen and Romano Schmid were stationed as a midfield trio against Stuttgart, and they will almost certainly retain their places on Saturday.
Striker Oliver Burke scored twice in his side's most recent match, and he is likely to be partnered by Marvin Ducksch up front.
Meanwhile, Bochum will be without suspended centre-back Ivan Ordets, and his absence may lead to the selection of Tim Oermann, Jakov Medic and Bernardo in defence.
Mats Pannewig, Ibrahima Sissoko and Tom Krauss are candidates to feature in the middle of the pitch given midfielder Matus Bero is also suspended.
Attacker Koji Miyoshi could return to action at the end of the month following a muscle injury, but Hecking may start Philipp Hofmann and Giorgos Masouras in the forward line against Werder Bremen.
Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:
Zetterer; Stark, Friedl, Pieper; Weiser, Stage, Lynen, Schmid, Agu; Burke, Ducksch
VfL Bochum possible starting lineup:
Horn; Oermann, Medic, Bernardo; Passlack, Pannewig, Sissoko, Krauss, Wittek; Hofmann, Masouras
We say: Werder Bremen 3-1 VfL Bochum
There is little reason to suggest that Werder Bremen will not achieve victory on Saturday, especially considering their attack and defence have flourished in recent weeks.
Bochum have at least proven they are able to create chances, but their frailty at the back is likely to see them drop points on the weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
