Werder Bremen host Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga match of the day on Saturday, with both sides gunning for a place in the Champions League. bundesliga.de previews all the action.
Werder Bremen - Schalke 04
Just three days after going out of the Champions League to Barcelona, Schalke have another formidable away fixture to surmount. Coach Mirko Slomka says it’s no bad thing to be following up the European disappointment with such tough opponents: “If we win, it could prove a decisive step on the road to qualification for the Champions League.”
Slomka certainly doesn’t have his personnel worries to seek, with Zlatan Bajramovic, Markus Heppke, Ivan Rakitic, Gustavo Varela, Zé Roberto and Levan Kobiashvili all missing the game due to injury or illness. Christian Pander is also struggling with a thigh problem and doubtful to start.
Almeida out
For their part, Bremen will be missing striker Hugo Almeida due to a hip injury, as well as Sebastian Boenisch and Daniel Jensen.
One player who can’t wait to take to the pitch is Mesut Özil. The U-21 international moved to Bremn from the “Royal Blues” in January, and says, “I can’t wait. I really hope I get to play, it would be a great experience.”
VfL Bochum - Hertha BSC
Hertha have remained unbeaten and netted at least twice in each of their last three visits to Bochum. Five of the last seven games between these sides have ended in draws. VfL are without a win in five, despite going 1-0 up in their last four outings.
Bremen and Bayern are the only sides to score more goals at home than Bochum’s 29 - and Bayern are the only team to have beaten them there this season, back in October.
Bochum missing three in the middle
Home coach Marcel Koller will once again be without injured midfield trio Shinji Ono, Thomas Zdebel and Christoph Dabrowski. Anthar Yahia and Mimoun Azaouagh took part in full training on Thursday, however, and will be available.
Hertha are without a win in five themselves, and have lost their last three outings 2-1. Coach Lucien Favre’s side will have to do without the services of three key players due to injury - Marko Pantelic, Raffael and Steve von Bergen.
First encounter of the season: 2-0 for Hertha
FC Energie Cottbus - Arminia Bielefeld
Three wins in their last four games have helped Cottbus make their way out of the drop zone. Their two previous home encounters with Bielefeld to date both ended in 2-1 victories.
Coach Bojan Prasnikar says of the fixture, “One point is not really enough for either side. On the other hand, it’s even more important not to lose this one.” Vragel da Silva and Igor Mitreski are likely to start in an unchanged defence, having recovered from slight injuries, while Prasnikar is keeping his attacking options open.
Frontzeck praises Cottbus
Arminia are on a four-game unbeaten streak, and have taken a point from each of their last three away games. Only Bayern have scored more goals than the eleven Bielefeld have managed in the last fifteen minutes of their games.
Coach Michael Frontzeck said of Saturday’s opponents, “Cottbus really make the most of the chances that come their way. They very rarely make a mistake, but instead wait for the opposition to slip up.”
First game of the season: 1-1
Hannover 96 - Eintracht Frankfurt
Hannover have won just one of their last eleven games, and taken eight points since the seaosn restart - eleven less than Frankfurt. Jiri Stajner (3) and Arnold Bruggink (2) are the only 96ers to have found the net in their last five outings.
Coach Dieter Hecking is desperate for his side to turn what he says are decent performances from his side into points. Against Eintracht, they will have to do it without the injured Bruggink and Hanno Balitsch. On the plus side, striker Mike Hanke is back after suspension.
Frankfurt on form
Frankfurt have won four of their last six on the road, including the two most recent. Coach Friedhelm Funkel is expecting a tough match in the AWD Arena against a team he says will be “doing everything to improve their post-winter-break form.” Funkel will make a late decision on the fitness of Markus Weissenberger und Aaron Galindo.
First encounter of the season: 0-0
Karlsruher SC - Hansa Rostock
KSC have seen their form dip after a great first half to the campaign, taking a paltry two points from their last five games. In that period they have managed one solitary goal, and none in their last two home games.
Coach Edmund Becker, who has warned against underestimating struggling Rostock, will be without the services of the injured Maik Franz, Michael Mutzel and Bradley Carnell.
Hard times
Rostock are after their first win in eight, and have lost three in a row. With only five points on the road all season, they are the division’s weakest away side.
Amir Shapourzadeh (suspended) and Dexter Langen and René Rydlewicz (injured) are out of contention for a starting slot. On the up side, Orestes, Marc Stein and Victor Agali are all back in the squad.
First season encounter: 0-0
Hamburger SV - MSV Duisburg
HSV have won four on the trot at home to Duisburg, ratcheting up a goal difference of 13-2 in the process. With regard to current form, the Hanseatics have only won one of their last five matches, failing to score more than once in any of them. They remain solid at the back, however, where they have only conceded seven since the restart.
Coach Huub Stevens is eager to return to winning ways, “to make good some of the points we’ve dropped in the last few matches.” Hamburg will be missing Romeo Castelen (recovering from an operation) and the suspended Joris Mathijsen and David Jarolim.
Ishiaku out
MSV notched a notable 2-1 win at Bremen on their last road trip, and four of their six wins this season have been away from home.
At HSV, the “Zebras” will have to do without two key plaers - injured striker Manasseh Ishiaku and suspended defender Björn Schlicke.
First season encounter: 1-0 Hamburg
VfL earn three points in Bremen
VfB entertain Hamburg
Bremen back in the groove