Preview: Werder Bremen vs. Bayern Munich - prediction, team news, lineups

While the River Islanders have lost each of their last three home matches, the Bavarians are seeking to avoid a third successive defeat on the road.

Match preview

After ending a six-game winless run with a 4-2 away victory over basement club Hertha Berlin, Werder Bremen suffered their 15th Bundesliga defeat of the season when they lost 2-1 away against Schalke 04 last weekend.

The River Islanders were leading 1-0 heading into the final 10 minutes courtesy of a first-half opener from Marvin Ducksch, but goals from Schalke substitutes Sepp van den Berg and Dominick Drexler turned the game on its head, with the latter netting a 92nd-minute winner.

With just four Bundesliga games remaining, Ole Werner knows that his side require one more win to secure their top-flight status for next season as they currently sit 12th in the table, seven points above 16th-placed VfL Bochum in the relegation playoff position.

Returning to winning ways on Saturday could prove challenging for Werder, though, as they currently have the worst home record in the Bundesliga this season, picking up just 16 points from 15 games at Weserstadion.

The River Islanders have also failed to win each of their last 32 meetings with Bayern Munich across all competitions, with their last triumph against the Bavarian giants dating back to September 2008 when they secured 5-2 league win at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern Munich ended a four-game winless run in all tournaments when they claimed a 2-0 home victory over Hertha Berlin last weekend, although they were made to work for maximum points against the Bundesliga's bottom-placed side.

Boasting 82% possession and 26 shots on goal, Thomas Tuchel's side had to wait until the 69th minute to break the deadlock courtesy of a strike from Serge Gnabry, before Kingsley Coman added a second 10 minutes later to help the Bavarian outfit return to the top of the table.

Bayern have won the Bundesliga title in each of the last 10 seasons and they remain in the driving seat to retain their German top-flight crown, although with Borussia Dortmund sitting just one point and one place further back in second, Tuchel and co can ill-afford any slip-ups in their final four matches.

The German giants, who thrashed Werder 6-1 on home soil earlier this season, enter Saturday's contest with the best away record in the Bundesliga this term, winning eight and drawing three of their 15 league games on the road, and have also scored 35 goals in the process, at least 10 more than any other team in the division.

However, Bayern have lost three of their last four away matches in all competitions, including back-to-back losses against Manchester City and Mainz 05 by an aggregate score of 6-1.

Werder Bremen Bundesliga form:

D

L

D

L

W

L

Bayern Munich Bundesliga form:

L

W

W

D

L

W

Bayern Munich form (all competitions):

W

L

D

D

L

W

Team News

Werder duo Felix Agu and Dikeni Salifou both remain in the treatment room with injuries, while the Bundesliga's top scorer Niclas Fullkrug - who has scored 16 goals in 26 games this term - is doubtful with a calf problem along with Eren Dinkci (foot).

Ducksch has scored four goals in his last two games and more goals (nine) than any other Bundesliga players during the second half of the campaign, and he is expected to be joined in attack by Wolfsburg loanee Maximilian Philipp if Fullkrug is not deemed fit to start.

Anthony Jung was on the scoresheet in Werder's 6-1 loss to Bayern in November, and the 31-year-old is set to retain his place at left wing-back, with former Bayern wideman Mitchell Weiser to operate on the opposite flank.

As for Bayern, Leon Goretzka is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards, while Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (knee), Alphonso Davies (thigh), Dayot Upamecano (muscle), Lucas Hernandez (knee) and Manuel Neuer (broken leg) are all ruled out through injury.

The absence of Goretzka will likely see Ryan Gravenberch handed just his second Bundesliga start of the season in centre-midfield, while a back four of Noussair Mazraoui, Benjamin Pavard, Matthijs de Ligt and Joao Cancelo is set to remain intact.

Gnabry, who scored a hat-trick against Werder earlier this season, could continue in a supporting role in behind central striker Sadio Mane, but Thomas Muller and Leroy Sane will both be pushing for a recall in the final third after beginning on the substitutes' bench last time out.

Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:

Pavlenka; Veljkovic, Stark, Friedl; Weiser, Bittencourt, Gross, Stage, Jung; Philipp, Ducksch

Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:

Sommer; Mazraoui, Pavard, De Ligt, Cancelo; Kimmich, Gravenberch; Coman, Gnabry, Musiala; Mane

We say: Werder Bremen 1-3 Bayern Munich

While Werder will be keen to make one final push to secure their Bundesliga status, Bayern are hoping to build on last weekend's victory and end the season strongly as they bid to fend off competition from Dortmund for the title.

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