Werder Bremen endeavors to halt a consecutive four-match defeat streak in the Bundesliga as they persist in their league campaign against Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday evening. Positioned tenth in the Bundesliga standings, the visiting team has amassed 30 points from 27 league encounters this season. In contrast, Frankfurt occupies the sixth position, holding a five-point advantage over Augsburg, positioned seventh.
Match preview
Frankfurt will approach Friday’s upcoming fixture following a goalless draw against Union Berlin on the preceding Saturday, a result that propelled them to 41 points from 27 matches, securing their sixth position in the league standings.
Securing the sixth spot entails participation in the Conference League playoff round for the forthcoming season. Currently, Frankfurt maintains a five-point lead over Augsburg, positioned seventh in the quest for European football. However, they face a nine-point deficit behind RB Leipzig, who currently occupy fifth place, poised to qualify for the Europa League group stage.
Despite enduring merely six defeats in their 27 league encounters this season, a statistic comparable to that of third-placed Stuttgart and marginally more than reigning champions Bayern Munich, Frankfurt’s ascent in the division has been impeded by an excessive tally of draws, totaling eleven.
The Eagles’ home form showcases a balanced record of six victories, six draws, and one loss across 13 league matches this season. Their upcoming opponents, Bremen, have suffered seven defeats in their 13 away fixtures during the 2023-24 campaign.
Dino Toppmoller’s side focuses solely on league commitments for the remainder of the season, facing pivotal encounters against Stuttgart, Bayern, Bayer Leverkusen, and Leipzig before the season’s denouement.
Conversely, Bremen finds themselves on a four-match losing streak, succumbing to Hoffenheim, Borussia Dortmund, Union Berlin, and Wolfsburg since their solitary point in a 1-1 draw with SV Darmstadt 98 on February 24.
Their last Bundesliga victory occurred in a 1-0 triumph over FC Koln in mid-February, coinciding with their descent to 10th place in the league table.
With a record of eight wins, six draws, and 13 defeats from their 27 league fixtures this season, Ole Werner’s side has accrued 30 points, placing them on par with Heidenheim in 11th place and trailing Hoffenheim by three points in ninth.
Although Bremen currently enjoys a four-point cushion over 15th-placed Bochum, relegation concerns remain minimal at this stage. Nonetheless, a string of further defeats could potentially jeopardize their league status, necessitating vigilance in the latter stages of the campaign.
In recent Bundesliga encounters with Frankfurt, Bremen has suffered two defeats in their last three meetings, including a 2-0 loss in the corresponding fixture last season. However, they managed to secure a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture earlier in the current season.
Team News
Frankfurt will be deprived of the services of three key players on Friday due to long-term knee injuries, namely Sasa Kalajdzic, Mehdi Loune, and Sebastian Rode. Additionally, there are concerns regarding Hugo Larsson’s availability due to a hip issue, while Aurelio Buta’s participation in the upcoming league fixture remains uncertain owing to illness.
Anticipated adjustments in the Frankfurt lineup include the probable inclusion of Philipp Max, who is expected to join the starting eleven following his recent appearance off the bench against Union Berlin. Nonetheless, aside from this alteration, the lineup is likely to remain unchanged.
The future of Donny van de Beek has been subject to widespread speculation amid his loan spell from Manchester United, where he has struggled to make a significant impact. Consequently, he is anticipated to continue his role as a substitute.
On the opposing side, Bremen will be without Anthony Jung due to suspension resulting from a red card in their previous encounter against Wolfsburg. However, the team will benefit from the return of Jens Stage, Mitchell Weiser, and Senne Lynen, who were previously sidelined due to bans.
Although Amos Pieper and Marco Friedl are progressing in their recoveries from injury, they are unlikely to feature in the upcoming match. Furthermore, Dawid Kownacki, Niklas Stark, Justin Njinmah, Skelly Alvero, and Michael Zetterer will also be absent from the Bremen lineup.
With Jung’s suspension opening up an opportunity, Julian Malatini is expected to fill the void in defense, while Marvin Ducksch is set to continue as the starting center-forward, having recorded nine Bundesliga goals thus far in what has been a positive season for him individually.
Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Tuta, Koch, Pacho; Ebimbe, Skhiri, Gotze, Max; Marmoush, Ekitike, Knauff
Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:
Pavlenka; Veljkovic, Pieper, Malatini; Weiser, Schmid, Stage, Schmidt, Deman; Ducksch, Woltemade