SV Werder Bremen will face a tough opponent at home this weekend in Bayer 04 Leverkusen (Sunday, 12.03.2023, 17:30 CET). The Werkself may have lacked consistency in their league performances this season, but come into the game fresh off a 2-0 win against Ferencvaros in the round of 16 of the Europa League. “We need to make sure that we deliver a strong performance against Leverkusen. They will pose a tough challenge for us,” said head coach Ole Werner.
Team news: Werner will be without Marco Friedl, Romano Schmid and Christian Groß this weekend (all illness), as well as goalkeeper Eduardo Dos Santos Haesler. Felix Agu and Manuel Mbom (both long-term injuries) will also not be in the squad. Michael Zetterer missed team training on Friday, but Werner is optimistic the goalkeeper will be able to return to face Leverkusen, saying: “We assume that Zetterer will be able to train on Saturday again.”
The head coach on the opponent: "Leverkusen have been playing and picking up points more consistently than they were six months ago, when we faced them for the first time. They are able to vary their formation. They have individual players that are very talented and who bring pace to the game. That’s what defines them as a team,” said the 34-year-old.
Most recent meeting: This will be the 84th meeting between the sides in the Bundesliga, with Werder have won 27 times, drawn on 34 occasions and lost 22 times. Since Leverkusen were promoted to the Bundesliga in 1979, the Green-Whites haven’t picked up more points against any other top-flight side than they have against B04. Each of the last three games between the sides have ended in a draw, including earlier this season. Kerem Demirbay opened the scoring (57’) before Milos Veljkovic equalised with his first goal of the season (82’).
Heading for victory?: Werder Bremen have scored the second-most headers of any Bundesliga side this season (9). Leverkusen have netted the fewest headers in the league (2), with Niclas Füllkrug scoring twice as many headers as the Werkself squad combined. The Green-Whites have also conceded the fewest headed shots in the division (2).
Stats compiled by WERDER.DE and Opta.
