SV Werder Bremen can take a decisive step towards staying in the relegation zone with a win against VfL Bochum.
SV Werder Bremen have found a kind of favourite opponent in VfL Bochum in recent years. Only in 2008 was Bochum able to win in Bremen. Otherwise, there have been 27 defeats and seven draws in 35 attempts.
Should SVW confirm their record, coach Ole Werner’s team could set the course for class preservation early on, with 30 points then.
That would be an almost optimal result for the promoted team. But there is still a lot of work ahead of points 28 to 30, because VfL will do everything in their power to fight back.
In addition, one of Bremen’s key players is still absent. Mitchell Weiser started individual training, but Werner confirmed at the pre-match press conference that he will not be able to make the squad on Saturday (3:30 pm).
This means that an important support player for star striker Niclas Füllkrug, who scored both goals in the 2-0 win in Bochum in the first leg, will be absent. With regard to his best striker, Werner stressed: “Niclas is very important for us, but if it’s focused on him, that should also provide spaces for others. It’s our job to use him properly but also to develop more goal threat via the other players.”
For example, for Leonardo Bittencourt, who will slide back into the squad. Before the game, Bremen also announced that Anthony Jung had extended his contract with SVW. Much to Werner’s delight: “Tony is a very reliable quantity. He brings us a certain physical presence and robustness that is extremely important for us. On top of that, he is also an important factor in the dressing room who has seen a lot.”
His robustness will also be in demand against Bochum, who need every point to stay in the relegation zone. The Bremen coach has respect for the opponent: “Bochum play very intensively, you can see that in all games. They have a very aggressive pressing over the whole field, play a lot with long balls and have a lot of pace in the front row.”
In addition to Weiser, Bremen will have to do without Manuel Mbom, Felix Agu and Dikeni Salifou.
