){kind=logo}
Getting that sense of freedom back
MATCH PREVIEW AHEAD OF THE GAME AWAY AT SC FREIBURG
06/02/26
:quality(70))
SV Werder Bremen are all set for matchday 21 of the Bundesliga season, with a trip to Freiburg this Saturday, 7th February, the next opportunity for the Green-Whites to get back to winning ways. With new head coach Daniel Thioune at the helm, the side will be keen not only to finally put an end to their winless run but also to rediscover a sense of freedom in their football when they kick off at the Europa-Park Stadion at 15:30 CET.
The squad: After Karim Coulibaly was absent from training earlier this week due to illness, with the team’s defensive personnel woes threatening to worsen further, the centre-half has since reported fit and ready to be involved this weekend. SVW will however still be without Niklas Stark (hip problems), Maximilian Wöber (muscular problems) and Amos Pieper (minor medical procedure) for the game against SC. Mitchell Weiser (ACL tear) and Victor Boniface (knee surgery) continue to be sidelined with long-term injuries.
Head coach Daniel Thioune on the opponent: “SC Freiburg are unbeaten in their last eight home games. The Europa-Park Stadion is a very tough place to go. They’re incredibly well organised in their patterns of play, which we need to be prepared for. I’m going to try and give the boys a few ideas on how we can deal with them, so that we can pose a threat to SC on the day.
Recent encounters: Saturday’s affair will mark the 50th time that the two sides have met in the German top flight. Werder have come out on top just shy of half the time, with 24 wins in the fixture to date. Freiburg have claimed victory on 15 occasions, although go into the game having already bested the Green-Whites this season in the reverse fixture at the Weserstadion. Julian Schuster’s side ran out 3-0 winners in Bremen, with Vincenzo Grifo and Junior Adamu getting themselves on the scoresheet for SC before a Karim Coulibaly own goal put the game out of sight for SVW. Werder have to go back to 2024 for their last victory over Freiburg, when strikes from Marvin Ducksch, Justin Njinmah and Julian Malatini were enough to wrap up a 3-1 win over this weekend’s opponent. Grifo beat Michael Zetterer for SC’s only goal on the day.
:quality(70))
Felix ex Machina: After being sidelined for around four months through injury, Felix Agu finally made it back into the Werder matchday sqaud for last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach. The full-back suffered a syndesmosis injury against St. Pauli in late August of last year. “It was a difficult and tedious injury to recover from. With Felix we need to make sure that we’re taking all the necessary precautions when preparing to give him minutes on a matchday. He can make an impact at any point across the whole game,” Thioune was keen to impress when discussing the defender, with whom he’s already more than familiar. Agu came through the academy at VfL Osnabrück before making his debut there under Werder’s new head coach. Not only did Agu manage to make his breakthrough as a professional footballer under the tutelage of his new gaffer, but the pair also managed to win the 3. Liga together and achieve promotion to the 2. Bundesliga.
More than a debut: Thioune isn’t just gearing up for his debut as Werder head coach this weekend. His first game in Green and White also marks the fulfilment of the 51-year-old’s dream to one day stand on the touchline in the Bundesliga. “It’s really something special for me. You’re willing to give everything to get to this level, and when you first get your coaching license, this is what you’re hoping to achieve.” The affair will also represent his first meeting with SC Freiburg as a coach and first time sitting as opposite number to their head coach, Julian Schuster.
)
:quality(80))
:quality(80))
:quality(80))
:quality(80))
)
:quality(80))
:quality(80))
:quality(80))
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
:quality(80))
:quality(80))
:quality(80))