Werder Bremen vs. Bayer Leverkusen: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

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The Werder slide stretched to seven defeats on the spin with the 3-1 loss to Union Berlin on Matchday 31 and the pressure is ramping up on Florian Kohfeldt. His team now sit 14th, just one point better off than Cologne in the relegation playoff place of 16th and only three clear of Hertha Berlin in the second automatic relegation spot. Hertha also have two games in hand, meaning Werder - who stayed up by the skin of their teeth via the playoff last season - are at real risk of the drop. To make matters worse, centre-back Toprak has suffered a setback in training and will miss the game. The Werder losing streak has also coincided with Josh Sargent's five-game run without a goal, but Kohfeldt will be buoyed by the expected returns from injury of Leonardo Bittencourt.

The Leverkusen focus has been sharpened in recent weeks, with Hannes Wolf's appointment until the end of the season breathing new life into their bid for a European place. Die Werkself have picked up three wins, a draw and just one defeat from his five matches in charge. The 3-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt - courtesy of goals from Leon Bailey, Kerem Demirbay and substitute Lucas Alario - means they're not out of the running for a top-four place, albeit Leverkusen are six points adrift of Die Adler, with nine points to play for. They will, however, be without top-scorer Alario after the Argentine picked up a thigh injury last Thursday, with Schick continuing to lead the line in his teammate's stead.

Match stats

Sargent is Werder's five-goal top scorer and hardest runner (725 sprints), as well as their second best for challenges won (308) so far this season.

Bremen have converted a league-high 73 percent of their clear-cut chances in 2020/21, but are among the seven lowest scorers in the division (34 goals).

Only relegated Schalke (nine) and 16th-placed Cologne (11) have collected fewer points than Bremen (13) in home matches over the course of the campaign.

Eight of Alario's team-leading 11 Bundesliga goals fell between Matchdays 4-11. He's since scored three in 17 league appearances.

Bailey has only scored one of his nine Bundesliga goals this season on the road, which partly explains why Leverkusen have netted just three times in eight away matches in 2021.

Bayer have had no trouble scoring in Bremen of late, though, netting 10 goals across their previous two trips to the Weser Stadium.

Probable line-ups

Bremen: Pavlenka - Größ, Veljkovic, Moisander (c) - Gebre Selassie, Eggestein, Möhwald, Augustinsson - Sargent, Bittencourt - Selke

Out: Plogmann (knee), Toprak (calf), Woltemade (knee)

Doubtful: Friedl (pelvis), Mbom (knee), Rashica (muscular)

Coach: Florian Kohfeldt

Leverkusen: Hradecky - Tah (c), S. Bender, Tapsoba, Sinkgraven - Palacios, Demirbay - Diaby, Wirtz, Bailey - Schick

Out: Alario (thigh), Arias (ankle), Baumgartlinger (knee), Fosu-Mensah (knee)

Doubtful: Aranguiz (Achilles' tendon), L. Bender (knee)

Coach: Hannes Wolf