Werder Bremen host Augsburg in the Bundesliga on Friday.
The hosts have performed above expectations upon their return to Germany’s top flight, while the visitors currently occupy the relegation playoff spot in the table.
Indeed, after bouncing back at the first attempt from Bundesliga. 2 last season, Bremen were expected to struggle having suffered their first relegation for 41 years two seasons ago.
That could still prove to be the case, of course, but it does not seem likely having gained eight points from their first five matches.
Ole Werner’s side are proving the masters of scoring late goals, with seven goals in the last five minutes across their last four matches providing an additional six points to their overall tally already.
Whether that proves sustainable remains to be seen, but it is indicative of their never-say-die attitude and a growing belief within the camp. Moreover, in Niclas Fullkrug they have a striker who was born to score goals, with the 29-year-old’s late brace away to VfL Bochum last weekend making it five goals in five for him while providing another crucial win for his side.
With his key striker in red hot form, Werner will feel confident of moving up to fifth in the table by beating Augsburg on Friday.
Having lost four of his first five league games in charge of Augsburg, Enrico Maassen is under immense pressure to quickly stop the rot which is setting in at the club.
Fuggerstadter were toothless once again at home against Hertha Berlin last time out, with their paltry effort of one shot on target the fourth time in five matches that they have tested the opposition goalkeeper two or fewer times.
As such, once Dodi Lukebakio stooped to head the ball past Rafal Gikiewicz three minutes before the hour mark, the visitors’ victory never looked in doubt. David Selke raced away in injury-time before unselfishly squaring the ball for Marco Richter, who scored his first goal since returning from testicular cancer.
Maassen could seriously do with a forward of Richter’s quality back at the club right now, but he will have to work with the tools that he has at his disposal and make Augsburg a much more effective offensive unit, otherwise the former Borussia Dortmund II boss could find himself on the chopping block in the near future, with Friday’s trip to free-scoring Bremen representing a tricky proposal.
Werder Bremen Bundesliga form:
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Werder Bremen form (all competitions):
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Augsburg Bundesliga form:
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Augsburg form (all competitions):
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We say: Werder Bremen 2-1 Augsburg
Werder Bremen have scored two or more goals in each of their five Bundesliga matches this season, and we do not envisage that run ending on Friday night.
Augbsurg could find their attacking opponents more accommodating and score themselves, but we expect a second successive Bremen victory.