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

The visitors, meanwhile, returned to winning ways against their relegation rivals Hertha Berlin prior to the international break.

Match preview

Werder Bremen, of course, have no concerns regarding an instant return to Germany's second tier following their promotion last season, with Ole Werner's side punching above their weight for the majority of the current campaign.

However, eight defeats in their last 12 league games have indicated a clear decline in Werder's performance levels, although that was to be expected considering their incredible early season form.

Die Werderaner have been one of the most entertaining teams in the Bundesliga this season, with only Bayern Munich's matches involving more goals than them ahead of this weekend's return to domestic action.

Werner's side were the masters at scoring late goals throughout those early months of the campaign, and they were at it again in their last match before the international break when Marvin Ducksch rescued a point away to Borussia Monchengladbach with only one minute of normal time remaining on the clock.

Despite having very little to play for between now and the end of the season, the 34-year-old will be demanding that his players continue to fight until the death in that manner, especially with a top half finish not completely out of reach for them.

Hoffenheim, meanwhile, are focused on one clear objective: avoiding their first ever relegation from the Bundesliga, having remained in Germany's top flight since their maiden promotion from the second tier in 2008.

Considering Die Kraichgauer had finished within the top half of the table in five of the previous six campaigns - including qualifying for the Champions League on two occasions - very few people could have foreseen the extent of their drop-off this time around.

Indeed, a winless run of 14 league matches - from which they have only collected two points - inevitably saw them sink to the bottom of the table prior to hosting Hertha in their last match, but a vital 3-1 victory saw them clamber above their opponents and out of the bottom three positions in the process.

Pellegrino Matarazzo, who marginally steered Stuttgart clear of relegation last season before joining Hoffenheim earlier this year, will be determined to build on that precious win with another one when they travel to Bremen this weekend.

Werder Bremen Bundesliga form:

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Hoffenheim Bundesliga form:

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Team News

Werder Bremen are set to remain without Felix Agu and Jean-Manuel Mbom due to long-term knee and calf injuries respectively, while Dudu's involvement is doubtful due to illness.

Werner will likely seek to reintegrate Leonardo Bittencourt, Christian Gross and club captain Marco Friedl to his starting XI after the trio missed their side's trip to Monchengladbach last time out.

Hoffenheim, meanwhile, will travel without Munas Dabbur after the forward received a straight red card late on against Hertha. The Israel international will miss three league games through suspension.

However, Ozan Kabak is available once again after missing that victory through a one-match ban of his own, and he should slot straight back into the visitors' defence in place of Kevin Akpoguma.

Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:

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

Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:

Baumann; Kabak, Vogt, Brooks; Kaderabek, Geiger, Stiller, Skov; Baumgartner; Bebou, Kramaric

We say: Werder Bremen 2-2 Hoffenheim

Despite finally ending their miserable losing streak in their last match, we are not convinced that Hoffenheim have fully turned a corner just yet, and they may struggle to claim an away victory on Sunday.

Werder undoubtedly have far less pressure on their shoulders, and we can envisage an open encounter as a result, with a potential share of the spoils as an outcome.

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