SV Werder Bremen’s next match is an away game against FC Augsburg on Saturday, 4th March (15:30 CET). Both teams go into this weekend with an even head-to-head record, while FCA have won their last three home games at the WWK Arena. Head coach Ole Werner wants his team to “score more goals and concede one fewer.”
The squad: Several Werder players will not be able to feature in Augsburg. Felix Agu, Manuel Mbom and Dikeni Salifou are all injured, while Niklas Stark and Lee Buchanan are both ill. However, Mitchell Weiser is back from a two-week spell on the sidelines. “We don’t yet know if he’ll start the game or come off the bench,” revealed Werner at the pre-match press conference.
The head coach on the opponents: “Augsburg’s intensity makes them really tough to play against. They rely a lot on winning second balls and are a really physical side. We will have to be fully focused in defence against a side that is aggressive and ready to get stuck in.”
Previous meetings: Werder fans won’t have forgotten the game against Augsburg earlier this season. FCA goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz saved Marvin Ducksch’s penalty in injury time to secure a 1-0 win for the visitors at the wohninvest WESERSTADION. Ducksch said on Wednesday that “it’s out of his mind now.” Nonetheless, Werner wants his team to “do better than in the reverse fixture.”
Overall, the two sides have an even head-to-head record in the Bundesliga. Both teams have won 11 times from 25 meetings. Werder have scored 41 goals and conceded 40.
Quick starters: Augsburg and Werder are among the top five sides for most goals in the first 15 minutes of games this season. Werder have scored seven times in the first quarter of an hour, compared to six for the Fuggerstädter. Ole Werner’s side have also been prolific during the final 15 minutes of matches, scoring a league-high 13 goals during this period of games.
