Borussia Dortmund will look to strengthen their grip in the top four of the Bundesliga table when they make the trip to Weserstadion to face Werder Bremen on Saturday evening.
A potentially tricky test awaits Borussia Dortmund this weekend as they look to consolidate their position in the Bundesliga’s top four to ensure Champions League football for next season when they take on Werder Bremen at the Weserstadion..
Ahead of this game, Borussia Dortmund sit fourth, four places ahead of Werder Bremen, another side with European aspirations. Werder Bremen have picked up 30 points so far, seven shy of the top six. Picking just one point from their last two matches, though, has hampered their European push, and they will hope to put things in order now.
Despite facing a team with ten men in the final 17 minutes, they lost 2-1 to Hoffenheim last time out as Skelly Alvero’s stoppage time strike proved to be a mere consolation, having trailed 2-0 at halftime. Dortmund, on the other hand, earned a 2-0 road victory over Union Berlin in their most recent Bundesliga game. Ian Maatsen and Karim Adeyemi scored one goal each.
Although Eden Terzic’s side sit in pole position to secure a top-four spot. But they have RB Leipzig breathing down their necks, and this is a must-win contest for them, as it remains to be seen whether the players can step up and deliver.
Team News & Tactics
Werder Bremen
Amos Pieper recently underwent ankle surgery and will be out for a few months. Captain Marco Friedl will be ruled out with an ankle injury for several weeks, while Spyros Angelidis (hand) has also been ruled out. Olivier Deman is suspended after picking up five yellow cards.
Deman’s suspension could mean Felix Agu is expected to start at left wing-back. Rafael Santos Borre’s mixed loan spell at Bremen has ended after the Eintracht Frankfurt attacker completed a permanent move to Brazilian outfit Internacional earlier this week.
The good news for the hosts is that Niklas Stark (hip), Isak Hansen-Aaroen (thigh), and Milos Veljkovic (knee) have all returned to training this week and could return to the matchday squad.
Former Borussia Dortmund youth team attackers Justin Njinmah and Marvin Ducksch have been Werder Bremen’s best performers in attack this season. And they will hope to haunt their former club at the weekend.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Zetterer; Malatini, Groß, Jung; Weiser, Schmid, Lynen, Stage, Agu; Njinmah, Ducksch
Borussia Dortmund
Donyell Malen is available after suspension. Sebastien Haller suffered an ankle injury during the Africa Cup of Nations final with Ivory Coast last month, while Samuel Bamba is out with a muscle issue.
First-choice goalkeeper Gregor Kobel is nearing a return from a “dead leg.” Felix Nmecha has returned to light training following a hip injury, while Jadon Sancho has adductor problems that need addressing.
Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen is set to retain his spot at left-back at the expense of Ramy Bensebaini after getting on the scoresheet last time out, while Donyell Malen is back from suspension as Niclas Fullkrug spearheads the attack on his return to his former stomping ground.
Probable Lineup (4-3-2-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Sule, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Sabitzer, Can, Brandt; Malen, Adeyemi; Fullkrug
Key Stats
- Borussia Dortmund have won five of their last six matches against Werder Bremen in all competitions.
- Borussia Dortmund’s last five away outings have averaged two goals per match.
- Werder Bremen have scored the fewest goals among teams in the Bundesliga top eight.
- Dortmund are unbeaten in seven away matches in the Bundesliga.
- Werder Bremen’s Marvin Ducksch has nine goals (11th in the Bundesliga’s top-scorer list) and four assists.
Player to Watch
Niclas Fullkrug
After a slow start to life at Borussia Dortmund, Niclas Fullkrug has managed to make a big impact since the turn of the year. The Germany international has nine goal involvements in just eight Bundesliga appearances in 2024, taking his tally for the season to 13 goals and nine assists. He will hope to lead Dortmund to victory from the front against his former club here.
Prediction
Werder Bremen 1-1 Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund have been really inconsistent of late, rarely winning back-to-back games, and backing against them to get all three points in this one against a tricky opposition like Werder Bremen will not be completely out of question. The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-1 draw at the Weserstadion on Saturday.