SV Werder Bremen are looking to build on their recent success when they face SV Darmstadt 98 on Saturday, 24th February (15:30 CET) at the wohninvest WESERSTADION. After losing 4-2 to their upcoming opponents in the first half of the season, the Green-Whites are aware of how important it will be for them to stay focused and put in a top-class performance this weekend.
Squad update: SVW are having to approach Saturday’s game with a long list of absentees. This is particularly evident in the centre-back role, as the absence of Niklas Stark (hip problems), Milos Veljkovic (knee problems), Marco Friedl (syndesmosis ligament tear) and Amos Pieper (broken ankle) has left Ole Werner with some difficult decisions to make. U23s loan player Cimo Röcker will make an appearance in the squad against Darmstadt, alongside Anthony Jung, who sat out of Thursday’s session due to load management. New signing Isak Hansen-Aarøen (muscle strain) and Spyros Angelidis (broken hand) will also miss this weekend’s game.
Ole Werner ahead of the match: “Despite the number of absentees, we still have boys in our ranks who are capable of holding their own and delivering a strong performance. We’re putting our trust in them. Our main aim is to build on the positives that have come out of the past few weeks. We want to play with the same level of aggression and be as difficult to face as we have been recently – that’s the bare minimum. Of course, we have to be prepared for the fact that we may not be given a lot of space to play in our build up. Our number one aim is to come away with all three points. We have faith in our ability to do this and will approach the game full of confidence. Darmstadt are a side who look to play attractive football, and are very difficult to break down.”
Previous meetings: SV Werder are SV Darmstadt 98’s favourite Bundesliga opponents. The Lilies have recorded three wins over SVW, more than against any other club in the top tier. Torsten Lieberknecht’s side picked up a 4-2 victory in the reverse fixture, one of just two wins so far this campaign. Darmstadt are, however, still waiting for their first ever win on the Weser, where Niclas Füllkrug scored the only goal for the Green-Whites on their last visit during Werder’s promotion year.
The threat of suspensions: Ole Werner’s side are one of five Bundesliga sides who are yet to receive a red card this season. However, the Green-Whites do have several players who are currently under threat of suspension. With Marvin Ducksch and Leonardo Bittencourt already having sat out the game in Munich, Mitchell Weiser, Marco Friedl, Niklas Stark, Romano Schmid, Olivier Deman and Jens Stage are all walking the tightrope of four yellow cards.
Less intensity: Werder have recently faced two of the most athletic sides in the Bundesliga in 1. FC Heidenheim and 1. FC Köln. The Lilies have, however, run an average of ‘just’ 115.7 kilometres per match, with only FC Bayern having covered less distance. SVD also sit bottom of the pile when it comes to sprints per game (193) and intensive runs.
