Werder Bremen vs Hoffenheim preview: Two in-form teams face off

Werder Bremen

It’s been a wild season so far for Werder Bremen, and this past week was a prime example of that.

It began on Saturday afternoon. They travelled to Mainz, which is a tough fixture for any Bundesliga side. Fortunately for Bremen the opposition were in a kind mood, gifting them two penalties in the first 25 minutes. Niclas Füllkrug was happy to accept, slotting both home to continue his remarkable goalscoring form.

The hosts did pull one back before the break, as Anthony Caci headed home a lovely cross from Sheraldo Becker. They kept attacking and pushing forward in search of an equalizer, but it was Werder who struck next. A lovely counter-attack set up Ludovit Reis, and even though his effort seemed destined for the corner anyway, a deflection guaranteed that it went in. 

Caci turned from scorer to provider two minutes later, picking out Jae-Sung Lee who then found the bottom corner with a superb headed finish. Mainz had plenty of time left, but the chances dried up, so the win and all three points when to the visitors. 

Bremen then had another tough road test in the DFB Pokal, unfortunately drawn against Borussia Dortmund in just the 2nd round. It seemed like it was going to be a rout early on, with the favorites jumping out to a 2-0 lead in only 17 minutes. They easily could’ve sealed the result in the opening stages.

They didn’t, and Werder made them pay. Füllkrug was subbed on in the 59th minute, and five minutes later he had scored a stunning brace. Another penalty started things off, and then a nutmeg in midfield led to a run up the field and a powering finish that curved away from the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

The contest turned into a classic, and just as it seemed like we were all headed for overtime, Dortmund struck. Goalkeeper Karl Hein was caught out, with Marcel Sabitzer rifling a free-kick from distance that flew past the keeper before he could track back in time.

While it was a bitter end for Bremen, it still counted as yet another comeback, showcasing the team’s incredible resolve and attacking ability. They do know that they have to work on the other side of the pitch, as continuing to leak goals at this rate will cost them eventually.

The issue with this contest is that they're up against a bogey team of theirs. They haven't won at home to Hoffenheim since 2017, and some supporters, especially my own father, are desperate to see that run end.

The Green-White’s are dreaming of Europe, and a win this time around would be a big step in making that dream a reality.

Team news

There’s a new injury concern for Bremen as Olivier Deman is dealing with an issue now, while Felix Agu, Moussa N'Diaye, Jens Stage, Justin Njinmah, and Keke Topp are all still out.

Predicted lineups

Hein, Arthur, Pieper, Friedl, Schmetgens, Lynen, Reis, Chuki, Weiser, Fullkrug, Grull

Hoffenheim

The start of the season was a bit of a nightmare for Hoffenheim, but they’ve bounced back quite well in recent weeks. 

They lost four out of their first five matches, with the only win coming somewhat randomly at home to Stuttgart. This run included defeats to Paderborn and Hamburg, sides expected to be in the bottom parts of the league table. Die Kraichgauer weren’t doing any better in Europe, losing both of their Europa League contests.

That run ended with a win against last-place Borussia Mönchengladbach. While some worried that result only came because of the opposition of the day, Hoffenheim silenced those doubts by picking up back-to-back 3-0 wins against Ligue 1 side Lyon and former Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.

A blow was dealt during the week, though, as the Blue’s were eliminated in the 2nd round of the DFB Pokal by second-division outfit Holstein Kiel. It’s not like they had a rotated lineup or anything like that, the first team couldn’t get it done and ultimately fell in a penalty shootout. 

It’s a strange season to look back at. Considering how well the last campaign went, it’s fair to see this one as a disappointment. With the amount of talent in the squad, especially going forward, Hoffenheim should be pushing for the European places.

What has been a positive is the recent form of the timeless Andrej Kramaric. The 35-year-old is back to his best, grabbing a goal and an assist in only 25 minutes in their recent Bundesliga match, and three goal contributions in the Europa League victory. 

Can he turn back the clock once again this weekend? Bremen will certainly be in danger if that ends up happening.

Team news

Hoffenheim are going through an injury crisis, with Valentin Gendrey, Tim Lemperle, Albian Hajdari, Nathan De Cat, and Patrick Wimmer all out, while Alexander Prass is suspended.

Predicted lineups

Baumann, Coufal, Kabak, Machida, Rots, Avdullahu, Burger, Daghim, Kramaric, Hlozek, Asllani