Bayern Munich vs. Werder Bremen - Bundesliga Preview
Two of the title contenders, Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen, are all set to lock heads on Saturday, December 3, at Allianz-Arena. A win for Bayern could take them top of the league standings. A Bremen victory would take Thomas Schaaf’s men into the top
three.
Bayern Munich
The Bavarian giants are currently third on the points table, one point adrift of Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach. Jupp Heynckes’ men would surely go all out for a win in order to bring their campaign back on the right track.
A victory on Saturday could possibly put Bayern atop the league table if Dortmund and Gladbach play out a draw on the same day. Amazingly, Bayern almost have a similar home and away record this season, having slipped twice at home.
The Allianz-Arena outfit has scored heavily this term which is one distinct advantage apart from being at home to the River Islanders. The Reds will go into Saturday’s game on the back of a 2-1 loss to FSV Mainz.
Werder Bremen
The River Islanders have been phenomenal this season and find themselves fourth on the league standings with 26 points. A win would ensure them the third spot on the table with a point advantage over their opponents.
Thomas Schaaf’s men are believed to have formed a strategy of battering Bayern at Allianz-Arena and will adapt an attacking approach on Saturday. Bayern would enter the game under pressure and Bremen could easily prevail under such conditions.
Of their four losses this season, three have come away from home. Unlike Bayern, the River Islanders will go into the game on the back of a 2-0 win at home to VfB Stuttgart.
Team News
Bayern Munich
The home side will adapt a 4-2-3-1 formation with Mario Gomez as a lone striker. Wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben are expected to start on Saturday. Apart from Bastian Schweinsteiger, the manager has no major worries and could face a selection dilemma
on the match day.
Werder Bremen
The visitors will go in with their most trusted 4-4-2 formation. Markus Rosenberg and Claudio Pizarro will play upfront while Tim Wiese will guard Bremen’s net against the under-pressure Bayern. The Green-Whites have no injury concerns at all, and Schaaf
is expected to field the same starting XI that defeated Stuttgart last weekend.
Players to Watch
Mario Gomez will surely be the hottest player on the pitch against Bremen and could cause major worries to the visitors if he is at his best on Saturday. The striker is currently the leading goal scorer in Bundesliga and the Champions League - proof of his
credentials.
Claudio Pizarro is not too far behind Gomez and has 11 goals to his credit thus far. All Bremen hopes will be linked with the striker who certainly has the skills to trouble the home side.
Prediction
Despite playing at home in front of a jam-packed stadium, Bayern Munich will be the team under pressure and could falter. However, Bremen’s away record isn’t impressive, which could bring some much needed hope for the home side.
As both teams are expected to press hard in search of all three points, a close encounter could be on the cards at Allianz-Arena. Bayern and Bremen are likely to end up playing a 2-2 draw under trying circumstances.
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