RB Leipzig vs. Werder Bremen preview: Die Roten Bullen continue top-four push
Fourth-placed RB Leipzig will look to move one step closer to securing Champions League qualification when they play host to Werder Bremen on Sunday.
RB Leipzig
After thrashing Freiburg 5-1 in the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal, Leipzig claimed another away victory over Christian Streich’s side just five days later when they recorded a 1-0 win thanks to Kevin Kampl’s second-half strike.
Leipzig ended matchday 31 in third position, but they dropped down to fourth place following Union Berlin’s 4-2 win against Freiburg on Saturday afternoon. If they can claim all three points on Sunday, Leipzig will regain third spot and move four points clear of fifth-placed Freiburg.
Having won six of their last seven games across all competitions, Marco Rose’s side will certainly head into Sunday’s encounter in a positive mood.
They will also take confidence from the fact that they have won all five of their Bundesliga home games against Bremen, scoring at least two goals in each of those victories.
Team News
Long-term absentee Peter Gulacsi remains sidelined for the hosts, while Janis Blaswich is a doubt due to illness.
Werder Bremen
Bremen head into Sunday’s contest off the back of consecutive 2-1 defeats to Schalke 04 and Bayern Munich. Ole Werner’s side managed to keep Bayern at bay in the first half of their home meeting last weekend, but two goals in 10 minutes from Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sané put the Bavarians in control. Niklas Schmidt pulled a goal back in the 87th minute, but it was too little too late as Bremen fell to a narrow defeat.
With three games left to play, die Werderaner are sitting in 12th place and are five points clear of the bottom three. They are unlikely to be relegated, but Bremen will still be keen to mathematically secure their safety this weekend.
Sunday’s visitors will also be looking to improve their defence after conceding at least two goals in each of their last nine games.
Team News
Werner has confirmed that Niclas Füllkrug remains sidelined with a calf injury. Dikeni Salifou, Felix Agu and Amos Pieper are also ruled out, while Milos Veljkovic is a doubt due to a groin problem.