Werder Bremen are set host Augsburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday at Weserstadion in a match that could impact the race for European football.
The home team are ninth with 26 points and were held to a 3-3 draw by Heidenheim on January 15, while the visitors are 12th with 19 points and beat Union Berlin 2-0 on Wednesday.
Match preview
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Die Werderaner might have created three big chances against Heidenheim, but they also faced three themselves, squandering 1-0 and 3-2 leads during the course of the game.
Head coach Ole Werner will be pleased that his side are only four points from fourth-placed RB Leipzig, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot, and just two points from sixth-placed Mainz 05, who occupy the division's Conference League spot.
Werder Bremen have been outstanding in front of goal in recent weeks considering they have found the back of the net 11 times in their last four games, though they also conceded six goals in that period.
Though the Green-Whites failed to win their two most recent outings, they did triumph in their prior four matches and have only been beaten once in seven games.
Werner's side boast a strong record at home in the past weeks given they are undefeated in their last six outings at Weserstadion, winning three and drawing three.
Werder Bremen earned a point in a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture against Sunday's opponents on August 24, and the result was a fair reflection of the game, with both teams creating three big chances.
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Augsburg controlled proceedings against Union Berlin last time out, preventing them from creating any big chances.
Boss Jess Thorup will be relieved that his team managed to keep a clean sheet for the first time in six games, with the club having conceded 12 times in their previous five outings.
The Fuggerstadter have only scored 19 goals in the Bundesliga this term, and this record makes them the league's third-worst offensive side.
Despite Augsburg's victory against Union, the team come into Sunday's clash in poor form considering they were beaten in their prior three fixtures by a cumulative score of 8-1.
The visitors' form away from home is dreadful, with the club's victory last time out their only win in their past 12 matches on the road in the Bundesliga, succumbing to defeat on nine occasions in that time.
Team News
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Werder Bremen have a relatively healthy squad, though midfielder Senne Lynen is suspended after receiving a yellow card last time out, and his absence may mean that Jens Stage comes in for him at the base of midfield.
Defender Felix Agu's knee injury is likely to keep him from playing until early February, so expect an unchanged back three of Milos Veljkovic, Niklas Stark and Anthony Jung.
Marco Grull and Marvin Ducksch both scored against Heidenheim, and given forward Keke Topp is unavailable, they are almost certain to retain their places in the XI.
As for Augsburg, they will be without suspended midfielder Frank Onyeka, as well as attacking midfielder Masaya Okugawa.
Thorup could start Kristijan Jakic and Arne Maier together in a double pivot behind an attack consisting of Elvis Rexhbecaj, Alexis Claude-Maurice and Samuel Essende considering winger Yusuf Kabadayi has been ruled out.
Defenders Keven Schlotterbeck, Mads Valentin Pedersen and Robert Gumny will not be in the matchday squad, so perhaps Chrislain Matsima, Jeffrey Gouweleeuw and Cedric Zesiger will start in a back three.
Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:
Zetterer; Veljkovic, Stark, Jung; Weiser, Schmid, Stage, Bittencourt, Kabore; Grull, Ducksch
Augsburg possible starting lineup:
Dahmen; Matsima, Gouweleeuw, Zesiger; Wolf, Jakic, Maier, Giannoulis; Rexhbecaj, Essende, Claude-Maurice
We say: Werder Bremen 3-1 Augsburg
Augsburg's defensive record has not been particularly strong in recent weeks, and it is difficult to see them keeping a clean sheet.
While Werder Bremen have been porous defensively themselves, their impressive goalscoring exploits should make them strong favourites on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
