Werder Bremen vs Heidenheim preview: Hosts look to bounce back

Werder Bremen

Bremen closed out last year with victories over VfL Bochum (1-0), St. Pauli (2-0), and Union (4-1). They aimed to achieve a fourth consecutive Bundesliga win for the first time since February 2015, a streak that saw them secure five straight triumphs. However, their momentum was halted by a setback against Leipzig.

The 4-2 defeat leaves die Grün-Weißen ninth in the Bundesliga, just two points behind Freiburg, who occupy the league's final European qualification spot, and three points shy of fifth-placed Mainz.

Despite their position, Bremen should fancy their chances of claiming all three points at home against third-bottom Heidenheim and extending their unbeaten run at the Weserstadion to five matches. However, with only two home wins this season, confidence in Werner’s men is tempered as they approach Wednesday’s clash.

Adding to their concerns is a poor recent record against Heidenheim, having lost three consecutive meetings, including both encounters since Heidenheim's promotion last season.

Even so, Bremen supporters remain optimistic. The team’s two home victories this season both came in their last three home matches, a 2-1 win over Holstein Kiel and a dominant 4-1 triumph against Union, with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Stuttgart in between. 

Team News

Bremen will be without Marco Friedl for Wednesday’s clash, as the defender serves a suspension for accumulating his fifth yellow card of the season against Leipzig. He joins Felix Agu (knee) and Keke Topp (ankle) on the sidelines due to injuries.

In attack, Jens Stage and Derrick Köhn, both with two match-winning goals each this season, will aim to deliver decisive moments for Bremen. 

Meanwhile, Marvin Ducksch and Mitchell Weiser, the creative heartbeat of the team, will look to exploit Heidenheim’s defence. Ducksch leads with seven assists, while Weiser has contributed five.

Heidenheim

It remains to be seen whether Heidenheim's 2-0 victory over the capital club on January 11 can serve as the spark for a turnaround in their fortunes. Before that triumph, they endured a dismal run of ten Bundesliga matches without a win.

Nine of those 10 games ended in defeat, leaving the third-bottom side with a grim outlook for survival as they entered 2025.

Despite Heidenheim's dismal run of form, long-serving manager Frank Schmidt retained his position, and his players repaid the club's faith with a morale-boosting 2-0 victory over Union. The Baden-Württemberg side now aims to secure back-to-back Bundesliga wins for the first time since September, when they triumphed over fellow promoted side St. Pauli (2-0) and Augsburg (4-0).

A crucial element in Heidenheim’s success will be their ability to maintain defensive solidity. Schmidt’s side have lost every match this season in which they conceded first, underscoring the importance of keeping their opponents at bay.

Conversely, Heidenheim has excelled when striking first, collecting all 12 points from the four games where they opened the scoring. These included wins over St. Pauli, Augsburg, Mainz (all 2-0), and Union (2-0), emphasizing the significance of a strong start as they prepare to face Bremen.

Team News

For Heidenheim, a handful of fitness concerns linger ahead of the game. Benedikt Gimber (knee), Julian Niehues (knee), Leo Scienza (ankle), and Mathias Honsak (muscle) are unlikely to feature.

On a brighter note for the visitors, forward Marvin Pieringer is set to return from suspension. With six goal involvements already this season, Pieringer will be eager to make an impact against Bremen and bolster Heidenheim’s attack.