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

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Defeat at Borussia Dortmund last time out means Werder are still flirting with relegation, sitting just four points clear of Hertha Berlin in the relegation playoff spot and seven from the automatic drop. They will be hoping to put some breathing space between themselves and their visitors in midweek, with Sargent and Milot Raschica shouldering much of the responsibility in an attacking sense. Raschica actually gave his side a 14th-minute lead against Dortmund before their four-goal capitulation, while his American teammate is enjoying the best season of his career in front of goal. With Omer Toprak injured, Christian Groß filled in at centre-back at the weekend, but his suspension for a fifth yellow card of the campaign means that a further change is needed in defence.

Mainz's upturn under coach Bo Svensson has been remarkable. In the 14 games since he took over at the start of January, the 05ers have picked up 22 points to move from bottom of the table up to 14th. They come into Matchday 30 with a five-point lead over Cologne in the second automatic relegation spot and a game in hand after their fixture with fellow strugglers Hertha on Sunday was postponed. An unbeaten five-match run includes crucial victories against Schalke and the Billy Goats, with the latter coming thanks to an injury-time winner from Leandro Barreiro. Jean-Paul Boetius also got a goal and an assist. The question is who will start in front of the playmaker, after Karim Onisiwo and Jonathan Burkardt were given the nod 10 days earlier, and the possibility to even leapfrog Bremen in the table.

Match stats

Sargent is one of three Bremen players on five goals for the campaign, along with Kevin Möhwald and Niclas Füllkrug. The last of the trio to score was Möhwald, a month ago against Wolfsburg.

Rashica scored his first Bundesliga goal of the season in Werder's recent loss to RB Leipzig and his second a week later against Dortmund. The Kosovo international was on target 17 times across the two previous campaigns.

Bremen have lost their last five Bundesliga outings, their worst run since January-February 2020 (also five defeats).

Robin Quaison has scored six goals in seven Bundesliga meetings with Bremen, making them his favourite victims alongside Hertha (six goals in six games).

The 05ers are unbeaten in five league outings (W3, D2), their longest run without loss since November-December 2015 (W3, D3).

Mainz are looking to secure Bundesliga status for a 13th straight season, having won promotion most recently in 2008/09. During their current top-flight run they have finished in the bottom half eight times, although they did climb as high as fifth in 2010/11.

Probable line-ups

Bremen: Pavlenka - Veljkovic, Moisander (c), Friedl - Gebre Selassie, Eggestein, Möhwald, Augustinsson - Sargent, Schmid - Rashica

Out: Groß (suspended), Toprak (calf), Woltemade (knee)

Doubtful: Bittencourt (ankle), Füllkrug (broken toe), Plogmann (knee)

Coach: Florian Kohfeldt

Mainz: Zentner - St. Juste, Bell, Niakhate (c) - da Costa, Barreiro, Kohr, Mwene - Boetius - Burkhardt, Onisiwo

Out: Kilian (thigh)

Doubtful: Nebel (foot)

Coach: Bo Svensson