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

The visitors, meanwhile, moved three points clear of the relegation zone by claiming only their second league win of the season last time out.

Match preview

After taking a miraculous 15 points from nine games having been promoted as Bundesliga 2 runners-up last season, Bremen were bound to suffer a setback or two sooner or later at the top level.

Ole Werner's side have entertained both their fanbase and neutrals alike with an attacking style of play this season, with only Bayern Munich scoring more goals than them prior to their 2-0 defeat at home to Mainz 05 two matchdays ago.

However, they were beaten by the same scoreline by Freiburg last weekend, too, with a disappointing penalty shoot-out defeat to second tier side Paderborn in the second round of the DFB-Pokal sandwiched in between.

In truth, Marco Friedl's 14th-minute dismissal gave his side little hope of earning a positive result away to a team flying high in third position in the table, although it did take Christian Streich's side until the 56th minute to break the deadlock through Lukas Kubler's strike.

As they have so often this season with so many crucial late goals in their favour, Die Werderaner must once again show great character on Friday to bounce back from three poor results on the bounce.

Hertha came exceptionally close to swapping divisions with Bremen, of course, but they were saved by a 2-0 win away to Hamburger SV in the relegation play-off last season having lost the first leg 1-0 at home.

Sandro Schwarz has been tasked with rebuilding Hertha after several poor seasons for Die Alte Dame, and so far the former Mainz manager is doing a decent job as he has guided them to 11 points from 11 matches.

Only rock-bottom Greuther Furth conceded more goals than Hertha last season, yet six teams - all of whom are in the top seven in the table - have conceded fewer than them so far this season.

However, wins have been hard to come by, making Wilfried Kanga's 88th-mintue winner against struggling Schalke 04 at the Olympiastadion last weekend a moment to savour for their fans, especially as it lifted them three points clear of danger ahead of their trip to Bremen on Friday.

Werder Bremen Bundesliga form:

L

D

W

W

L

L

Werder Bremen form (all competitions):

D

W

W

L

L

L

Hertha Berlin Bundesliga form:

D

D

D

D

L

W

Team News

Bremen will be without club captain Friedl for two matches through suspension after his red card against Freiburg last weekend, with Werner desperate to have Milos Veljkovic available once again. The central defender has missed each of his side's recent three defeats with a muscle strain.

Nicolai Rapp and Jean-Manuel Mbom are unlikely to feature prior to next month's World Cup due to hip and Achilles tendon issues respectively, while Leonardo Bittencourt may be hoping for a start in midfield having fallen out of favour in recent times.

Hertha, meanwhile, will travel without Jessic Ngankam and Kelian Nsona due to muscle and ACL injuries respectively, while it remains to be seen whether Kevin Prince-Boateng can shake off a recent infection to be a part of the matchday squad.

Schwarz is unlikely to make changes to a winning team from last weekend, meaning Marco Richter may have to continue to build up match fitness from the bench having only recently recovered from surgery to remove a testicular tumour.

Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:

Pavlenka; Pieper, Veljkovic, Stark; Weiser, Schmid, Bittencourt, Stage, Jung; Fullkrug, Ducksch

Hertha Berlin possible starting lineup:

Christensen; Kenny, Rogel, Kempf, Plattenhardt; Tousart, Serdar; Lukabakio, Ejuke; Kanga, Jovetic

We say: Werder Bremen 2-2 Hertha Berlin

We can envisage an entertaining encounter at the Weserstadion on Friday night, especially if Hertha continue with the 4-2-2-2 system which they deployed for their win against Schalke last weekend.

That would mean both teams playing with two out-and-out strikers, with a score draw arguably the most likely outcome given Bremen's drop-off in form in recent weeks.

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