No room for complacency

Preview for the Darmstadt match

Robert Bauer and the rest of the Werder team want to do all they can to get that third successive win (photo: nordphoto).
First Team
Thursday, 02.03.2017 / 18:00

“There’s no question about it, we want to win at home. There’s no getting around that.” That is how Werder’s head coach Alexander Nouri is approaching Saturday’s (15:30 CET) match against bottom of the table club SV Darmstadt 98. A win would be the Green-Whites third in a row, something SVW have not managed for over two years. However despite Werder’s recent good run of form and that Kruse, Gnabry and the rest of the team are clearly the favourites ahead of this clash, Nouri has warned his players about taking things too easy against the Lilies. “There is no reason to be complacent. I am expecting a top performance from us and we are obviously aiming for exactly the same result,” insisted the Bremen coach, giving his side a clear signal of what he wants them to achieve.

The following sums up which negative trends are causing the guests from Darmstadt their biggest problems, at which point in matches the Lilies defence are particularly vulnerable and which former Werder men will be paying a visit to the Weser-Stadion once again. 

Did you know, that...

... Werder coach Alexander Nouri has been given some exclusive bits of advice on the opposition? Luca Caldirola was at Darmstadt 98 for all of last season. The Italian knows the club better than anyone at SVW. “Of course I’ve spoken with Luca, we are always open to suggestions from players.” Alexander Nouri knows that Caldirola can be a useful source of information, saying that “he has given us one or two good tips.” However Nouri was not prepared to reveal at Thursday’s press conference which pointers Caldirola had given him and who can blame him for doing so before such an important match?

... Darmstadt 98 are still yet to pick up a single point away from home? Ten away games, ten defeats. The Lilies’ away record this season is catastrophic, especially when you take a look at the away table from the 2015/16 season. Darmstadt’s total of 26 points away from home was only bettered by Bayern, Dortmund and Leverkusen. Compare that to this season, where Darmstadt have only scored four goals in foreign territory, with the last of those coming as far back as 27th November 2016, when they lost 3-1 at Schalke.

... The Lilies have been noticeably more prone to conceding goals after the winter break than beforehand?

In terms of conceding goals, Werder and Darmstadt have had a lot to take. Both have let in 43 goals already this season. Only Hamburger SV have seen the ball role into their own net more times than this (45). But what is more striking is that Darmstadt have conceded 33 of their goals after the break, a clear league high. Indeed both Werder goals in the 2-2 draw earlier this season came in the second half.

... Werder’s captain is available again?
Clemens Fritz was teetering on four yellow cards for a while and a foul on Pablo de Blasis in Mainz then saw him shown his fifth caution of the season. The captain was suspended for one match as a result. Having watched the 2-1 win over Wolfsburg from the stands, he will be back on the pitch on Saturday. 

... a current Werder man is likely to be in the squad for the opposition? Leon Guwara moved from Bremen to Darmstadt on loan. The 20-year-old has made twelve appearances in the Bundesliga for the Lilies since then but the left-footer has only featured twice since the winter break. 

... a long-time former Werder player has joined the coaching team at Darmstadt? Torsten Frings spent ten and a half years of his career in a Werder shirt. After he hung up his boots in 2013, he became Viktor Skripnik’s assistant at Werder’s U23s and then also with the first team. Frings then took the next step forward in his managerial career and became first team coach at SV Darmstadt 98. However the Lilies have been unable to get themselves out of trouble, with Frings managing just four points in his first six matches at the club. They are eight points from safety as the prospect of staying up slips further and further away. 

... the theme of inclusion will be very prominent at the Weser-Stadion for this match? People with disabilities will be in action during the match in different parts of the stadium under the motto “Together for inclusion”, doing things such as sitting in the commentator’s booth and taking care of the pitch at half-time. “This day of action will be a sign of inclusion, tolerance and the fight against discrimination,” said Werder’s president Dr. Hubertus Hess-Grunewald. 

 

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