The last meeting: SVW and FCN have met 66 times, 64 of them in the Bundesliga and 2 in the DFB-Pokal. The match at the Max-Morlock-Stadion earlier this season was the first between the two sides in the second tier, and saw a late turnaround from the Green-Whites. After Nikola Dovedan’s opener, Niclas Füllkrug equalised with ten to go, and Leo Bittencourt poked home in the 88th minute to win the game and spark fantastic scenes. In total, Werder have beaten Nürnberg in 30 of their 66 meetings, the Bavarian side winning 17. The other 19 games ended in draws.
A look at the league table: With 53 points on the board, Werder go into this game second in the league, Nürnberg four points behind in fifth. Schalke 04 took over at the top of the table last week, but only on goal difference. “It’s crunch time now. When you’re fighting at the top, you want to stay up there until the final day and have a successful end to things. We want to either build on our current position or at least stay in the position we’re in when the points are finally tallied up. That’s our goal. 1. FC Nürnberg are the first big challenge on that path, and that’s what our focus is on,” explained Werner.
Records broken: Niclas Füllkrug scored the equaliser for Werder last time out in their 1-1 draw away to FC St. Pauli, his 15th goal of the season and a new personal record for him in this division. Incidentally, his previous best of 14 came in in the red and black of Sunday’s opponents! Since “Lücke” scored his first goal of the season at the end of October, no other player in the 2. Bundesliga has scored more than him.
Unbeaten against FCN: Ole Werner is unbeaten in four second division games against FCN, winning one and drawing three when he was in charge of Holstein Kiel. Since he took over the reins here in Bremen at the end of November, the 33 points he has picked up sees the Green-Whites at the top of the table.
Compiled by WERDER.DE and Opta.
