Aiming to end their summer trip on a positive note, Sheffield Wednesday will lock horns with Bundesliga side Werder Bremen at Parkstadion Zell am Ziller in Austria for a pre-season clash on Friday.
The Owls are facing a high-class opposition during their friendly schedule, with Die Werderaner close to securing European football during the 2023-24 campaign.
Match preview
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For the first time in five years, Werder Bremen finished in the top half of the Bundesliga standings during the 2023-24 season, a massive upturn in fortunes considering that they were plying their trade in the second tier of German football as recently as the 2021-22 term.
Things could have been significantly better for Die Werderaner, who placed ninth in the top-flight standings and behind Heidenheim on goal difference, with the Bundesliga newcomers managing to secure a spot in the qualifying stages of next season's Conference League as a result.
Bremen were unlucky to miss out on a continental berth in the end, with the Germans enjoying a four-game unbeaten streak at the end of the Bundesliga season, including a final day success over Bochum, with centre-backs Marco Friedl and Anthony Jung both getting onto the scoresheet.
Since taking the reins at Wester Stadion during November 2021, Ole Werner has guided Die Werderaner to an automatic promotion from Bundesliga 2 and to safety in back-to-back Bundesliga terms, with the former Holstein Kiel boss a saviour in the eyes of the Bremen fanbase.
Werder Bremen have endured a mixed start to their pre-season plans, securing a comfortable 2-0 win over lower league outfit Verden 04 on July 14 before losing 3-0 to Serie A side Lecce, who fought to supremacy in the contest largely thanks to a first-half Nikola Krstovic brace.
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Sheffield Wednesday's week-long camp based in Germany saw its first of two friendly fixtures last Saturday afternoon, when the Championship club were well beaten by Austrian giants Red Bull Salzburg, who will be playing in the Champions League later this calendar year.
The gulf in class between the two sides was clear to see at the Red Bull Arena, where goals from Amar Dedic, Maurits Kjaergaard, Karim Konate and Adam Daghim secured a convincing success for Pepijn Lijnders's troops, although it was not all doom and gloom for the visiting Owls.
There has been some bad news since last weekend, though, with last season's loanee and this summer's transfer target Ian Poveda seemingly closing in on a move to second-tier rivals Sunderland, meaning that Wednesday will need to search elsewhere for a first-choice right winger.
Following the trip to non league side Alfreton Town at the beginning of pre-season, Sheffield Wednesday would have pitted their wits against four straight top-flight outfits ahead of the Championship opener against Plymouth Argyle, with Danny Rohl keen to test his men versus high-class opposition.
The 35-year-old German performed a miracle at Hillsborough last campaign after replacing Xisco Munoz, helping the Owls to second-tier safety with an unlikely upturn in results, including a six-game unbeaten run at the end of the season.
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Team News
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After topping his side's goalscoring and assist charts last term, Marvin Ducksch is the main man for Werder Bremen and should start on Friday.
Die Werderaner could field some of their new signings against Wednesday, including striker Keke Topp, who enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Schalke 04 last term.
Despite increasing speculation surrounding a move away, Bailey Cadamarteri started up front for Sheffield Wednesday against Salzburg and could do the same here.
With pre-season all about fitness and building relationships, the Owls could stick with a centre-back pairing of Akin Famewo and Dominic Iorfa in spite of a heavy loss last time out.
Summer arrivals Nathaniel Chalobah and Max Lowe will be pushing for starts, as too Charlie McNeill, who recently joined from Manchester United.
Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:
Zetterer; Piper, Stage, Agu, Friedl; Weiser, Hansen, Aaroen, Alvero; Topp, Ducksch
Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Beadle; Valentin, Iorfa, Famewo, Johnson; Palmer, Bannan, Musaba, Windass, Kobacki; Cadamarteri
We say: Werder Bremen 3-2 Sheffield Wednesday
Werder Bremen were deserved losers in their battle with Lecce, however the Bundesliga side will fancy their chances against second-tier opposition in this one.
Sheffield Wednesday's tricky summer schedule continues on Friday night, when we believe that the Owls will suffer their third straight defeat.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
