We've almost come full circle. On Saturday (15:30 CET) awaits the last Bundesliga side yet to face Werder since Viktor Skripnik has been at the helm- 1. FC Köln. Since his appointment in October, Skripnik has faced every other team in the league, but now it's time to face Köln in the cathedral city. Here in the following statistics you will find out: how Werder have picked themselves up since the home game against Köln, why the fixture list arouses good memories and where Köln's strengths and weaknesses lie.

Did you know that...

...Werder are uneaten in all three of their away games in the second half of the season? The Green-Whites won two (2-1 in Hoffenheim and 1-0 in Freiburg) and drew 1-1 away at Schalke. The opponents, however, are also unbeaten at home during the second half of the season, having drawn three and won one. 

...Werder haven't lost to Köln in 14 years? At least in games kicking off at 15:30 (CET) on a Saturday. Since May 2001 there has been eight meetings between the two sides at the traditional 15:30 Saturday kick off time, of which the Green-Whites have won six and drawn two.

...since the last game, Werder have steadily climbed up the table? After the 1-0 home defeat to Köln on Matchday 9, Werder were eight points behind the newly promoted side, yet now Skripnik's team find themselves four points clear of "Effzeh" ahead of Saturday's game.

...both teams can recall recently missing players? For SVW, top scorer Franco di Santo is once again available after serving his one match suspension, whilst Köln's central defender Kevin Wimmer is also available for selection.

... Köln rarely excite at home? Effzeh have scored just nine goals in front of their home crowd this season, with four of those goals coming in the 4-1 win against Eintracht Frankfurt. This is the second worst record in the league after Stuttgart. That said, Peter Stöger's side have only conceded eleven goals at home (fourth best record in the league). A total of five games have finished 0-0 in Köln.

...the record between the two sides is completely even? In 85 matches to date, the two sides have each won 33 games, with the other 19 matched ending in a draw.

...Viktor Skripnik expects Köln to go for the win? "They have managed to find their feet recently and definitely won't sit back on Saturday. They are a direct competitor in the league and will definitely want to hurt us", believes Skripnik.

...Robert Hartmann will referee the game? The 35 year old economist officiated the 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim on Matchday, as well as the 4-1 defeat to Gladbach on Matchday 16. He will be assisted by Benjamin Cortus and Eduard Beitinger, with Tobias Stieler as the fourth official.