Bayer Leverkusen will be aiming to stay in touch with the teams above them in the Bundesliga standings as they travel to take on Werder Bremen.
Ole Werner was critical of his side’s performance last weekend despite managing a 4-2 win over Wolfsburg. Werder Bremen went a goal behind and then had a resurgent run to take a 3-1 lead, but soon after, it conceded, which proved to be a consolation game for the visitors.
After a decent start to the season, Bremen is somewhat in a similar vein of form to the one they were in last season. The gap between them and the top sides is a little at this stage of the season, as a few good results could let Ole Werner’s side close the gap.
However, only some more dropped results would ensure they are within the range of a mid-table side, which will not make things exciting in the background. They do have a big task ahead when they host reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen at home, as a significant result on Saturday will fill this team with confidence to challenge new objectives.
Xabi Alonso has gone through a testing period this season after confirming his stay at Bayer Leverkusen in the summer. While it did not take long to see their unbeaten run snap into two, the reigning Bundesliga champions have maintained their composure to the best of their abilities to stay close to the top order this season.
Last weekend, they secured a narrow 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, with goals from Robert Andrich and Victor Boniface sealing the points. Leverkusen followed that up with a drab 1-1 draw to Brest in the Champions League on Wednesday, where they managed to create only one big chance. Going by their performance in that clash, a draw wasn’t a bad result after all.
Alonso will aim to keep the gap with the top order to the bare minimum. For that, he would need to guarantee a win on Saturday. Their offensive record has been good, but his defence has continued to concede at an alarming rate, which is not a good sign if they have aspirations to retain the title.
Team News & Tactics
Werder Bremen
Ole Werner does have a few problems with his squad. Jens Stage is unavailable with a calf injury and will only return in mid-November. Marco Crull and defender Niklas Stark will also be absent until next month.
Due to the latter’s unavailability, Ole Werner will field a back-three consisting of Julian Malatini, Marco Friedl, and Amos Pieper. A few more names are deemed doubtful, including Justin Njinmah, Anthony Jung, Abed Nankishi, and Milos Veljkovic.
Hence, Ole Werner’s back three selections make sense. He will likely start Leonardo Bittencourt and Senne Lynen in his central midfield, especially with Stage out of the contest with that injury. Marvin Ducksch is likely to start up front at the tip of the attack, with support from Mitchell Weiser and Romano Schmid in the attacking third.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Zetterer; Malatini, Friedl, Pieper; Agu, Bittencourt, Lynen, Kohn; Weiser, Schmid; Ducksch
Bayer Leverkusen
Alonso has a few problems with player availability, as Victor Boniface could still be a doubt following his absence in midweek following a car accident. While the Nigerian forward was not injured in the incident, it is believed that he’s under emotional stress, as his status remains unclear ahead of the weekend.
He will certainly lead the line if he makes himself available for the weekend, or else one of Patrik Schick or Florian Wirtz could start in the false-nine role. Either way, Martin Terrier will have a place in the front three, while Alonso will bring some of his regulars for the Bundesliga action after making eight changes in midweek.
Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah, and Piero Hincapie are expected to start at the back, while Granit Xhaka and Andrich are preferred in central midfield.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Hradecky; Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie; Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Schick, Wirtz, Terrier
Key Stats
- Bayer Leverkusen are undefeated in 37 of their last 38 matches in the Bundesliga.
- Bayer Leverkusen have scored at least 2 goals in 10 of their last 11 matches (Bundesliga).
- Bayer Leverkusen are the 11th-best defensive team in the Bundesliga after conceding 13 goals this term.
- Werder Bremen are winless against Bayer Leverkusen in their last 5 encounters.
- Werder Bremen have yet to win a home game in the Bundesliga this season.
Player to Watch
Florian Wirtz
Wirtz was the Bundesliga player of the year, and while his team has shown inconsistencies after being crowned champions, he has maintained his levels. The German international already has four goals in the league and three in the Champions League, including the crucial equaliser in what was a drab performance from Leverkusen against Brest in midweek.
Wirtz needs to play a significant role in the upcoming game against Werder Bremen to help Leverkusen maintain their distance from the top order in the Bundesliga table. Hence, Alonso will be looking towards the German star for solutions, especially if Boniface continues to miss the weekend’s game.
Prediction
Werder Bremen 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Werder Bremen has thoroughly struggled to win games at home, and in fact, they have yet to open their account at the venue for this season. However, they have been impressive otherwise on their travels and will look to bring that form to the table on Saturday.
Leverkusen, on the other hand, have continued to cast doubts about their defensive performances this season, although they have stayed prolific in the attacking end. Hence, one would expect Alonso’s men to come out on top against Werder Bremen, although the margin of their victory could be a narrow one. This game could even see a close finish for the reigning champions.
