Werder Bremen and Union Berlin will both be aiming to end significant losing streaks when they meet at Weserstadion in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
The two sides head into the meeting level on six points from eight games, with Union Berlin on a nine-game losing run in all competitions.
Match preview
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Werder Bremen are suffering a poor run of form themselves, with their 1-0 defeat away to Borussia Dortmund last Friday meaning that they have collected only three points from their last five games, with four of those ending in defeat.
Die Werderaner would not have expected to avoid defeat at Westfalenstadion, with Julian Brandt's 67th-minute strike ultimately proving the difference between the sides. In fact, Ole Werner may have been encouraged by his side's defensive discipline during the loss, having witnessed his side ship 12 goals across their previous four games.
Eight of those came in 4-2 defeats to newly-promoted sides Heidenheim and SV Darmstadt 98, which could prove to be damaging ones come the end of the campaign. Having ended last season in a serious slump - Werner's side won just one of their final 12 league games - there is little doubt that they are preparing themselves for a relegation battle this time around.
As such, Werner and his players will sense a serious opportunity to inflict even more misery on their forthcoming opponents this weekend, as they hope to put a little more distance between themselves and the bottom three.
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Indeed, having qualified for the Champions League for the first time in the club's history to crown four glorious seasons competing in the Bundesliga, the thought of Union Berlin enduring a losing streak stretching into double figures is almost unimaginable.
Yet that is exactly what Urs Fischer's side are facing when they travel to Bremen on Saturday, having lost six successive league games as well as their opening three games in Europe's elite competition.
Die Eisernen were the latest victim to fall to high-flying Stuttgart last weekend, with Serhou Guirassy extending his tally to an astonishing 14 goals in eight league games during his side's 3-0 victory, before Fischer's side blanked at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei once again in a 1-0 defeat to Serie A champions Napoli on Tuesday.
In a match devoid of clear-cut chances, Giacomo Raspadori's 65th minute settled the encounter, leaving Union Berlin bottom of Group C. However, they are only three points behind third-placed Braga, meaning that they are not without hope of dropping down to the Europa League in the New Year.
In the meantime, though, Fischer will be far more concerned with correcting his side's league form. With Dortmund 14 points clear of them in fourth position, their hopes of maintaining their place in the Champions League are almost over already, but falling to another defeat on Saturday would signal fears of being involved in an unwanted relegation battle in the capital.
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Werder Bremen will remain without Jiri Pavlenka, Naby Keita, Amos Pieper and Niklas Stark due to injuries, with the quartet facing a race against time to feature again before the upcoming international break in November.
However, Marvin Ducksch should shake off a recent cold to lead the hosts' attack, where he is likely to be joined by Rafael Santos Borre in place of Dawid Kownacki.
Union Berlin, meanwhile, will almost certainly restore Kevin Behrens to their frontline after surprisingly naming their joint top goalscorer on the bench against Napoli in midweek, while Aissa Laidouni could also start in order to provide more energy in midfield.
Andras Schafer remains sidelined by a long-term foot injury, while full-backs Josip Juranovic and Jerome Roussillon are both unlikely to be available due to knocks, meaning that Robin Gosens and club captain Christopher Trimmel will be asked to go again in the wide areas.
Leonardo Bonucci has been dropped by Fischer in the last two games, with the Italy legend appearing to be out of favour amid rumours of growing tension with his new manager.
Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:
Zetterer; Veljkovic, Friedl, Jung; Weiser, Schmid, Stage, Bittencourt, Deman; Borre, Ducksch
Union Berlin possible starting lineup:
Ronnow; Doekhi, Knoche, Leite; Trimmel, Laidouni, Khedira, Haberer, Gosens; Becker, Behrens
We say: Werder Bremen 1-2 Union Berlin
Both teams will head into this contest with minimal confidence given their current losing streaks, but something has to give here for at least one of them.
Ultimately, Union Berlin contain too much quality to keep losing games, having made incredible progress under Fischer's tutelage in recent years. Werder Bremen, on the other hand, would have expected to be in a relegation fight this season, and we think that they will narrowly fall to a fourth successive defeat at the weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Brett Curtis
