VfB Stuttgart versus SV Werder Bremen, what was that?...On 28.03.2004 both teams played out a high quality 4:4 draw at the Gottlieb-Daimler stadium in a very open game with both teams displaying offensive football from the top drawer. The Green-Whites celebrated the championship at the end of the season, with Stuttgart taking fourth place and a UEFA cup spot. On Wednesday, 27.10.2004, the title challengers will meet the title holders for the first time this season.

"Here are two teams to play one another who both believe in determined, attacking and attractive football. Both VfB and Werder have proven their capabilities on both a national and international stage", said Werder sport director Klaus Allofs in anticipation of Wednesday nights meeting and the Bremen boss wasn't finished : "Actually the pre-conditions for the game in relation to the league table couldn't be better, you can't plan those situations".

Stuttgart Unbeaten At Home

While the Green-Whites cruised to a 4:1 win over Nuremburg last weekend, the Swabians had to come to terms with their first defeat of this season with a shock 2:0 defeat at SC Freiburg, a result which cost Matthias Sammers side top spot in the table. Aside from that minor slip up, VfB have presented themselves in stunning form thus far in particular at home where they remain unbeaten winning all four home ties. Maintaining second position after a third of the season has projected the "jungen Wilden" (the wild-young-ones) among the title favourites.

The key to success within Sammers team lie in their collective strenghts Hildebrand (keeper), Hinkle, Meira (currently injured), Lahm (defence), Soldo, Hleb and Heldt (midfield) and Kuranyi, Cacau and Szabics (attack). The loss of defender Marco Bordon to Schalke 04 had a great effect on Stuttgart. The summer signing Marcus Babbel and all-round defender Martin Stranzl have found their feet at VfB at an unexpected speed both battling their way into the starting eleven. Stranzl will miss the tie against Werder through suspension.

Schulz : "The winner will be right in amoungst them"

Nothing new from the champions injury list: "Nothing has changed as far as our squad situation is concerned. Tim Borowski and Angelos Charisteas won't be fit in time and the rest of our injured players are still in rehab", commented Thomas Schaaf on Monday. Thanks to the string of injuries, third division amateur Francis Banecki could well retain his place in the first team (his third on the trot).

Christian Schulz considers the test of strenght with Stuttgart could prove decisive : "The winner will be right up amoungst them, the loser will have to battle their way back." 'Schulle' dosen't expect the points to be shared: "We haven't been known to draw much this season." Memories of last seasons legendary 4:4 draw with the Swabians are beginning to spring to the forfront of Werder minds: "That was one of my best games", claims Ivan Klasnic who scored a brace that afternoon. "We want to repeat our performance of that day although it is clear that Stuttgart will have to have respect for us", continued the Croatian. Happily for the Green-Whites Marcelo Bordon, who scored a hat-trick in last seasons tie, has moved on since the last game. "Without him we should win 4:1 this time", was the somewhat satirical prognosis from Frenchman Valerien Ismael.