There are just a few days to go until the second Nordderby of the season kicks-off at the Weser-Stadion. Easter Sunday sees the 106th meeting between Werder Bremen and Hamburg. Excitement is building amongst the fans, but how do the players prepare themselves for such a game and what previous experience do they have of playing in derby games?
One player with minimal experience of the Norrdderby is Werder’s top scorer this season, Serge Gnabry. His first and only appearance in this game came earlier this season in the 2-2 draw in Hamburg. He was on the scoresheet that day. The 21-year-old is yet to experience a derby atmosphere in the Weser-Stadion, but has been told all about it: “There’s a lot of hype around the place and excitement too. Obviously as a player you automatically suck that up and hope that you can take the points in the derby game,” said Gnabry looking ahead to the match. However, he’s not the only Werder player who knows the importance of this match.
Philipp Bargfrede also knows what a big game this is. The 28-year-old grew up in a small town named Zeven which lies between Hamburg and Bremen and was therefore aware from a young age what this game means to the fans. “I know what the Nordderby means to both teams. My home town lies right in the middle. If you go west, you meet Werder fans, if you go east, you hit Hamburg fans. It will be special again on Sunday.” Bargfrede, who has been at Werder from a young age, has a good idea of the type of game which will unfold on Sunday. “Both teams are on the up. It will be a very intense game. I think we’ll win because we’re playing at home.”
Santiago Garcia has had very different derby experiences to Bargfrede. In comparison to northern Germany, the Argentine left-back has experienced derbies in South America and southern Italy. His taste of derby games began with his home-town club CA Rosario Central when the 28-year-old came up against Newell's Old Boys. In Italy, the Werder defender experienced the rivalry between US Palermo and Catania Calcio.
García doesn’t want to compare these games with the Nordderby, however. “I’ve played in a lot of derby games, in Rosario, in Palermo, but here in the Weser-Stadion it will be quite different. I can’t say if it’s better or worse,” said Garcia in an interview with WERDER.DE. He also said, „You need to be there to be able to describe the moment and the feeling. It’s hard to describe, but of course it’s a super feeling.“ The Argetine has certainly come to understand the significance of the Nordderby during his three-and-a-half years at Werder: “We absolutely appreciate what the fans say and write. We know what it means for the town. We need to concentrate on our jobs as players during the game. It will be a difficult game, but nothing is impossible.”
The Green-Whites are currently preparing themselves for the big match by training hard, with every one of them hoping to write their name into the Nordderby history books.
