Champions Bayer Leverkusen will be looking to stay within touching distance of leaders Bayern Munich when they travel to face Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga at Weserstadion on Saturday.
The Green-Whites are in eighth place with 11 points after seven matchweeks and beat Wolfsburg 4-2 last time out on October 20, while Leverkusen are in fourth place with 14 points from seven games and are three points behind Bayern.
Match preview
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Werder Bremen had to come from behind to beat Wolfsburg after conceding the game’s first goal in the 19th minute, but Mitchell Weiser levelled the scoreline in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time.
The Green-Whites were leading 3-1 by the 67th minute and by the end of the match they had created four big chances and produced 15 shots compared to the Wolves’ three big chances and 14 shots.
Boss Ole Werner said after his side’s victory that while his team started sloppily, his players did not change how he wanted them to play and were eventually rewarded.
The hosts have won three of their last five games in the Bundesliga, though they lost their other two matches in that period and have not won two consecutive games in the league since April.
Werder Bremen have been poor at home for some time given they have lost their two most recent top-flight fixtures at home, and have only won twice in the Bundesliga at Weserstadion in their last 10 matches.
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As for the visitors, they were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw with Brest in the Champions League on Wednesday, and only created one big chance that day.
In fairness to Xabi Alonso, perhaps the draw itself should not necessarily be seen as a bad result considering he had made eight changes from the team that beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 in their most recent Bundesliga fixture on October 19.
Alonso’s team trailed after just 16 minutes against Frankfurt, but managed to collect all three points thanks to goals from Robert Andrich and Victor Boniface.
Though Leverkusen have scored 18 goals in the league, they have conceded 13 times and these records make them the division’s second best offensive and 11th best defensive team.
Despite regularly conceding, Die Schwarzroten have proven difficult to beat given they have won five and drawn three of their last eight matches.
Leverkusen have drawn their two most recent games 1-1, but they did win the prior four matches by a cumulative score of 12-3.
Werder Bremen Bundesliga form:
Bayer Leverkusen Bundesliga form:
Bayer Leverkusen form (all competitions):
Team News
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Jens Stage is out injured as a result of a calf injury, and the midfielder is not likely to return for the home team until the middle of November.
Winger Marco Grull will also be absent until next month, as will centre-back Niklas Stark, and in his absence Werder Bremen could name a back three consisting of Julian Malatini, Marco Friedl and Amos Pieper.
Leonardo Bittencourt and Senne Lynen may be chosen to start in midfield, with Marvin Ducksch likely to lead the hosts’ attack.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen will be without forward Amine Adli for a number of months after he fractured his leg during his side’s game against Brest.
Alonso will almost certainly select a forward line consisting of Martin Terrier and Florian Wirtz behind striker Boniface.
Elsewhere, Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie may start in defence, with Granit Xhaka and Andrich ahead of them in midfield.
Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:
Zetterer; Malatini, Friedl, Pieper; Agu, Bittencourt, Lynen, Kohn; Weiser, Schmid; Ducksch
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo; Terrier, Wirtz; Boniface
Although it would be surprising if Leverkusen kept a clean sheet, they have still been excellent from an offensive perspective this season.
If the visitors were to take the lead, it is difficult to see how Werder Bremen would prevent Alonso’s side from running away with the game.
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