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

Werder Bremen have failed to win any of their last five matches, while Freiburg have fallen out of the top four after collecting only two points from their last three games.

Match preview

Although Werder Bremen's form has clearly taken a dip in recent weeks, their fans can certainly not have any complaints regarding their team's continued entertainment levels, with each of Die Werderaner's last six matches seeing three or more goals scored at either end.

Ole Werner's side travelled to Mainz 05 last weekend, in a match that always looked likely to produce goals given their opponents' blistering form of late. Indeed, Mainz had beaten RB Leipzig 3-0 away from home in their previous match to record their sixth win in nine league games.

However, it took until the 85th minute for the deadlock to be broken, with Ludovic Ajorque appearing to fire the hosts to yet another victory. Jens Stage had other ideas when equalising two minutes later, but Nelson Weiper announced his burgeoning talent by coming off the bench to strike in the 93rd minute.

Late goals have been an ongoing theme of Werder Bremen's season, though, with Germany forward Niclas Fullkrug scoring a heap of them himself. He added yet another to his growing list by sensationally snatching a point for the visitors two minutes later, in the perfect representation of Werner's side's never-say-die attitude.

It is that spirit above anything else that will ensure they avoid an instant return to Germany's second tier, with a nine-point gap above the relegation places at this stage of the season surely too much for them to face any trouble even with their current struggles to claim all three points. Werner will be hoping that changes on Sunday.

After being leapfrogged by Leipzig into the fourth and final Champions League qualification spot last weekend, though, Freiburg's desperation to claim all three points in Bremen this weekend is clearly far greater than that of their opponents'.

Having won at the Allianz Arena for the first time in their history to knock Bayern Munich out of the DFB-Pokal at the quarter-final stage, Christian Streich's side were always likely to find it tough to beat the Bavarians twice in the space of a week.

Nonetheless, the 57-year-old would have been proud of his side's efforts to hold Thomas Tuchel's side to a 1-0 victory, with Matthijs De Ligt's thumping effort six minutes after the break proving to be the difference between the sides in a tight and nervy affair.

While Streich will desperately be hoping to avenge their penalty shoot-out defeat to Leipzig in last season's German cup final by beating Marco Rose's in the semi-finals later this month, the club's long-serving manager will also want to ensure that his side does not go out with a whimper in terms of the top four race, which they have performed above all expectations to be a part of at this stage of the season.

Freiburg must return to winning ways sooner rather than later if that is likely to remain the case for much longer, though, especially against teams with little to play for such as Werder Bremen on Sunday.

Werder Bremen Bundesliga form:

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Freiburg Bundesliga form:

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Freiburg form (all competitions):

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Team News

Werder Bremen are likely to remain without Felix Agu (knee) and Amos Pieper (ankle), but they welcomed Jean-Manuel Mbom back to their matchday squad last weekend after the midfielder had missed most of the campaign through a long-term injury.

Werner is unlikely to make any changes from the starting XI that performed heroically to claim a point away to Mainz last weekend, with Fullkrug and Marvin Ducksch continuing to form one of the division's most fearsome offensive duos.

Freiburg, meanwhile, will travel without Manuel Gulde and Daniel-Kofi Kyereh due to serious thigh and knee injuries respectively.

Philipp Lienhart, who has had a muscle issue himself of late, replaced Gulde during his side's defeat to Bayern last week and should be fit enough to start. Lukas Kubler may replace Kiliann Sildillia at right-back, while Roland Sallai and Jeong Woo-yeong are pushing for starts in the wide areas.

Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:

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

Freiburg possible starting lineup:

Flekken; Kubler, Ginter, Lienhart, Gunter; Eggestein, Hofler; Doan, Grifo; Gregoritsch, Holer

We say: Werder Bremen 1-2 Freiburg

Werder Bremen's matches have generally been open and entertaining all season long, and we do not expect any different in this meeting, especially with Werner's side almost safe from relegation danger.

However, their slight concerns may be prolonged for a little longer if they fall to defeat against Freiburg, who will be highly motivated to return to winning ways in their quest to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in the club's history.

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