After two wins on the bounce and four games unbeaten, Viktor Skripnik’s side face a trip to the German record champions and current league leaders – SV Werder Bremen face FC Bayern München at the Allianz Arena on Saturday evening (kick-off 18:30 CET).
Two consecutive wins have given the Green Whites a much-needed jolt of self-confidence. However, as Sambou Yatabaré warns: "The wins haven’t changed our situation much. We still need a lot more points on the board." The Werder players all know that getting anything from the game against the champions won’t be easy. "Obviously Bayern are a tough opponent – but we aren’t scared, and we’ll give everything. We have to be strong in defence, our keeper has to have a good day and perhaps we’ll be able to nick it with just one counter attack, like what happened when they played Mainz," said Santiago García.
Find out here what would be considered a success in Munich, who Viktor Skripnik’s side need to watch out for and what Claudio Pizarro could be right here at WERDER.DE.
Did you know…
…no side has scored more league goals than Werder in 2016? Werder’s goal machine is certainly firing on all cylinders at the moment. The Green-Whites have found the net 18 times since the winter break – more than any other side in the league (VfB Stuttgart also have 18).
…the midweek fixture pile-up worked out brilliantly for the Green-Whites? Werder Bremen picked up seven points from their three games in a week, moving up to 13th place – the highest than they have been all season since matchday 7. With ten goals in three matches, Viktor Skripnik’s side scored the most goals in the league across matchday 23, 24 and 25 – making Werder the true winners of the busy week.
…that Bayern are going through a tough patch of their own? For the first time this season, FC Bayern München failed to win for two consecutive games. Pep Guardiola’s side lost 2-1 at home to Mainz before drawing 0-0 against Dortmund – the last time this happened was in May 2015, when the record champions lost three games on the bounce.
…that Werder must especially watch out for Robert Lewandowski? The Poland international has been directly involved in seven goals in his last five matches against Werder – scoring four goals himself.
…Claudio Pizarro is actually in better form than Lewandowski at the moment? With nine goals since the winter break, Bremen’s Claudio Pizarro is one goal ahead of the Poland international in 2016. Pizarro has nine goals and one assists in ten games in all competitions since Christmas – exactly the same as Lewandowski. Pizarro has been directly involved in an incredible 14 goals in his last 11 competitive matches (12 goals and two assists). Werder’s oldie also has the advantage when it comes to chance conversion: Pizarro has put away 48% of his chances this season, whilst Lewandowski has scored ‘just’ 27%.
…that this match is the 100th Bundesliga match between the sides? This will be the 100th time that the two most successful sides in Bundesliga history meet in the top flight. FC Bayern have the clear advantage in the head-to-head with 48 wins to Bremen’s 26, whilst there have also been 25 draws.
…Werder tend to go ahead against Bayern? Bayern have gone behind to the Green-Whites 42 times in their history – more times than against any other side.
…Claudio Pizarro could score a historic goal in a match between his current side and his former side? The Peru international could net his 101st Bundesliga goal on Saturday, which would put Pizarro equal with chairman of the supervisory board Marco Bode in the all-time Werder goalscorer charts. However, Pizarro wouldn’t let himself get carried away: "I will never celebrate against Bayern. That’s what I’ve always done and I wouldn’t change that, even if I scored the record-breaking goal," the striker told WERDER.DE.
…Thomas Eichin is staying realistic despite Werder’s two recent wins? "We know exactly where we are at the moment. We know that we’re in good form and we want to show that. We’re headed to Munich full of confidence. The team showed in the DFB Cup that we can compete with the top sides. But FC Bayern are one of the best sides ever and we have to be careful. We have to have a perfect day at the office and we need them to have an off day for us to win the game," said the 49-year-old during Thursday’s press conference.
.@papydjilo15: "I've never played against @FCBayernEN and I am really looking forward to it. I believe we can win." pic.twitter.com/QmYQ70hGpW
— SV Werder Bremen EN (@werderbremen_en) March 9, 2016
…Viktor Skripnik has a good record against Bayern? Werder head coach Viktor Skripnik won three of his five meetings with FC Bayern during his playing days, drawing one and losing just one. Skripnik also slotted home a penalty to score the winner in Werder’s 1-0 victory over the record champions in November 2001.
…a number of players will be seeing some familiar faces? Alongside Claudio Pizarro and Torsten Frings, who played for both sides, there are other players who will be meeting up with some old friends this Saturday. Jannik Vestergaard and Bayern’s David Alaba were both at Hoffenheim in the 2010/11 season, whilst Felix Wiedwald and Sebastian Rode both played together at Eintracht Frankfurt in 2013/14. Sambou Yatabaré and Medhi Benatia are also good friends off the field, and the pair recently went on holiday together.
…you will be able to follow the game live? Tune into Twitter and follow @werderbremen_en to keep up with the clash via our minute-by-minute ticker!
