Bundesliga, Matchday 34 | PREVIEW
Bayer Leverkusen – Werder Bremen
Even though it is the last game of a very long season for both these sides, the three points are still extremely important. For a long while, Michael Skibbe’s up-and-coming young side were being touted as potential title contenders, but a slump after Christmas has seen them have to settle for a Uefa Cup battle. A few weeks ago they slipped out of the top five altogether, but now have one game to secure one of the two spots in Europe next season.
Four teams sit on 51 points at the moment but it could be argued that both Stuttgart and Hamburg have slightly easier matches and maybe hold the advantage. To miss out on Europe would be a huge disappointment to Bayer, and no doubt the calls for trainer Michael Skibbe’s head that were recently heard would resurface.
Werder will also be wondering what could have been after finishing neck and neck with Bayern Munich at the half way stage. A poor run of form directly after the winter break allowed the Bavarians to open up a lead which they have only extended since then.
Finishing second will still be a positive achievement for Werder and will spare them the qualification rounds in next season’s Champions League, which considering the trouble they had against Dinamo Zagreb earlier this season maybe just as well.
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