Werder return to Bundesliga on Saturday, just days after their convincing 4-1 victory in Leverkusen. Basement side Hannover 96 visit the Weserstadion, which means there is another reunion with Bremen stalwart Thomas Schaaf. The action gets up and running at 15:30 CET.
Werder’s performance in midweek was impressive and they’ve taken four points from the last two games, but Viktor Skripnik has warned his side that “these points will be worthless if we don’t also claim something from the Hannover game.”
WERDER.DE took a look at all of the facts and figures ahead of the match.
…Werder have a great record against Hannover? Record champions FC Bayern (36) have inflicted more Bundesliga defeats on Hannover than any other side, however, Gladbach (29) and, most importantly, Bremen (28) are hot on their heels. The Lower Saxony club have lost more than half of their Bundesliga matches against Werder (28 out of 55), winning just 12 of the clashes (D15).
…Werder are strong at home against the Reds? The Lower Saxony side have won just one of their last 27 games in Bremen (D8, L18). That victory came 13 years ago – 2-1 thanks to Fredi Bobic’s brace. SVW are unbeaten in 12 home games against Hannover, a sequence which includes eight wins. Werder kept a clean sheet in seven of the aforementioned 12 clashes.
…Pizarro is potent against 96? Claudio Pizarro has a great record against Hannover in the Bundesliga (W10, D6, L3), scoring 11 times in the process. He has faced them seven times in Bremen colours, netting on six occasions.
…Viktor Skripnik was warned his side ahead of the game? “Hannover will fight throughout and we can’t underestimate them. They have a good squad and know how to play good football. It will be a bit like out last home game, or at least that’s what I expect. It was a great performance in midweek but we need to put in a similar performance again this weekend. As always, we want to win the game,” explained the head coach ahead of the fixture.
…an old favourite represents Hannover? Hugo Almeida played for Werder between summer 2006 and January 2011 (41 goals in 117 Bundesliga appearances). He won the DFB Cup alongside current Bremen assistant coach Torsten Frings in 2009. The Portugal star will miss this weekend’s game through suspension though.
…a legend is back in town? Thomas Schaaf is well known in Bremen. He joined SVW as a youth team player in 1972 and spent 41 years at the club in varying guises. During his stint at the Weserstadion he won the title on three occasions and lifted five DFB Cups. “My whole family will be there,” explained Schaaf. Viktor Skripnik won the double with Werder in 2004 under Schaaf’s stewardship. Torsten Frings lifted the DFB Cup twice under the current Hannover boss (1999 – alongside Skripnik – and 2009).
…Pizarro could reach a milestone this weekend? The Peru international has currently scored 99 top-flight goals for Werder – he could bring up the century this weekend!
…goals are a regular occurrence in this fixture? The ball has hit the back of the net 195 times in the 55 Bundesliga meetings to date (SVW: 122, H96: 73), so a milestone could be reached this weekend! The last 20 clashes have featured 80 goals (4.0 per game, SVW: 51, H96: 29). The 200-mark could be reached this weekend.
…Werder have been lethal from set pieces of late? Three of Bremen’s four goals in midweek came from dead balls. “That’s not a fluke. Obviously there are times when they don’t go to plan, but set pieces have always been one of our strengths – especially last season. Being good at them will be useful in the fight against the drop,” explained Fin Bartels. Zlatko Junuzovic netted a direct free kick in both games against Hannover in 2014/15.
...Felix Zwayer is taking charge of the game? The 34-year-old referee has been officiating in the Bundesliga since 2009. He was the man in the middle for this season’s home match against Borussia Mönchengladbach. He will be assisted by Florian Steuer and Marco Achmüller; Günter Perl is the fourth official.
…the guests could be without a key player? Hannover 96 may have to line up without Salif Sané this weekend. The Senegal star has been suffering with a knee injury. He netted the winner in the reverse fixture.
...you can follow the match on social media? The game’s key moments will be shared via our Facebook page, but for live updates you’ll need to follow @werderbremen_en – to get involved with the coverage use #svwh96!
