Having faced Bayer Leverkusen last weekend, Werder Bremen could be cursing their luck as they host in-form Stuttgart at the Weserstadion in gameweek 30's Bundesliga action on Sunday.
The out-of-form hosts are winless in seven, making them underdogs against a visiting side chasing a record-equalling 21st top-flight triumph this weekend.
Match preview
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Nothing could have prepared Werder for last weekend's onslaught at Bayer Leverkusen, who rode roughshod over Ole Werner's men in the 5-0 thrashing at BayArena to claim their first Bundesliga crown.
It does not get any easier for Bremen, whose next league match sees them host third-placed Stuttgart, hoping to end the away side's 11-game undefeated top-flight sequence.
The River Islanders do not go into Sunday's game confident in securing success because of a pitiful run that leaves them winless in seven league games (five defeats) and looking nervously over their shoulder.
While Werner's men are not in immediate danger of falling into the relegation playoff spots, only five points separate Werder from 16th-placed Mainz, making this weekend's game significant for the final weeks of their season.
However, a side winless in four home games (three losses) are not favoured to get a favourable outcome against the league's third-placed side.
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In another season, Stuttgart's outstanding campaign should be dominating the headlines. However, Sebastian Hoeness's side have been somewhat overshadowed by Leverkusen's dominant title-winning year.
The Swabians claimed a 20th Bundesliga victory by defeating Eintracht Frankfurt (3-0) last time out, and another takes them to a club record 21 with four gameweeks after this weekend.
Stuttgart are undefeated in 11 top-flight matches, with the only loss suffered in all competitions since late January a 3-2 Pokal defeat to Xabi Alonso's men at the start of February, underscoring the visitors' impressive form heading into this weekend.
Hoeness and his troops could overtake Thomas Tuchel's Bayern Munich side if they better the deposed champions' result at Union Berlin on Saturday, as both sides are level on 63 points after 29 fixtures.
Stuttgart's season is already a success, with Champions League participation all but assured, but it could end on a high as they aim to supplant Bayern and end the 2023-24 season strongly.
Team News
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Werder have suspended Naby Keita until the end of the season following the Guinea midfielder's tantrum last time out — he allegedly failed to board the team bus and headed home — after discovering he was not in the starting lineup to face Leverkusen in gameweek 29.
Missing for Werner's men are Jens Stage (suspension), Skelly Alvero (calf), Isak Hansen-Aaroen (illness), Jiri Pavlenka (muscle), Amos Pieper (ankle) and Niklas Stark (ankle). Justin Njinmah (ankle) is touch-and-go.
Hoeness is without Nikolas Nartey (knee), Josha Vagnoman (metatarsal) and Dan-Axel Zagadou (knee), while a late decision will be made on Anthony Rouault (broken jaw).
Serhou Guirassy (25 goals) and Deniz Undav are on fire, and the forwards should fancy themselves against a side with one clean sheet in nine Bundesliga games, conceding two or more five times.
Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:
Zetterer; Veljkovic, Friedl, Jung; Weiser, Schmid, Lynen, Bittencourt, Agu; Woltemade, Ducksch
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Stergiou, Anton, Ito, Mittelstadt; Leweling, Karazor, Stiller, Fuhrich; Undav, Guirassy
We say: Werder Bremen 1-3 Stuttgart
Not only are Stuttgart in healthier form than Sunday's opponents, the Swabians have won five and drawn two of their recent eight Bundesliga fixtures against Bremen, losing 2-0 in February 2023 under Bruno Labbadia.
It is hard to look beyond a routine away win in gameweek 30, taking the away side to 21 top-flight wins this term.
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