SV Werder Bremen

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The relatively early decider in Thursday‘s UEFA Cup semi final second leg against Espanyol Barcelona has at least one positive aspect. Werder could reduce the level of aggression in the game, take the foot off the pedal and focus on not risking any injuries as once again in this season, the Green-Whites have little time to recuperate ahead of their next match. On Sunday, 06.05.2007 at 5pm, Werder Bremen will have yet another ‘Final’ to play when they take to the pitch against Hertha BSC Berlin. With their UEFA Cup dreams dashed, Werder can now pour all of their energy into the closing stage of the Bundesliga. To avoid the Bundesliga title slipping out of reach, the Green-Whites will have to avoid a fourth game on the trot without a win, and only three points will really do. “We have to make use of the chances that come our way”, demanded Thomas Schaaf and went on: “It’s time we made a decisive point again.”

‘Decisive points’ - Werder have slipped back to third in the table following the disappointing defeat in Bielefeld last Sunday but are still just two points adrift of league leaders Schalke. VfB Stuttgart’s win on Saturday saw them leap-frog Bremen into second place, just a point behind the top side. VfB play Mainz on Saturday and at the same time, Schalke will face Nuremberg, giving both sides the chance of a psychological advantage, but either way, the three points which are up for grabs in the German capital on Sunday could prove decisive. Th game is of equally great importance for Hertha who are just four points short of seventh place and UEFA Cup involvement next season. Until the 20th match day of the season, Berlin were sitting pretty in seventh place themselves but a run of eight games without a win saw them drop down to ninth. Karsten Heine took over the trainer position from Falko Götz and has had his ups and downs, starting with a 3:1 win in Bielefeld, then a 0:1 defeat at home by Dortmund before managing a 4:0 win in Aachen. Things could well be looking up for Hertha. The club from the capital had set themselves the pre-season goal of European participation for next season but if they are to do so then they will all three points, following five failed attempts at a win in front of their own fans. Thomas Schaaf has been warned: “They’re going to want to take their chance. After the criticism they have received of late, they are going to want something more successful.” Statistics don’t give us a very clear view of things either. Werder have won three of their last four games at the Olympia Stadium (with one draw) but Berlin have won 12 of the 25 home games they’ve played against Bremen.

‘Decisive points’ – Werder’s recent cup defeat could have further influence on the outcome of the game. The game looked to be shifting in Werder’s favour but soon things changed : an early goal, early red card, midfield battle but finally bitter defeat. ”That match really cost some headaches”, explained Thomas Schaaf but it’s not only the pain that remains: “On Sunday we’ll be fit again and have the energy to accept the next challenge. The anger and frustration from the Barcelona game will surely help us.” The team agree and see the defeat as a chance – Torsten Frings stated: “I think we’ll show a reaction and take all of our frustration out onto the pitch”. Christian Schulz added: “Heart and passion – always confident that we can achieve our goal and believe we can take the title.”

‘Decisive points’ – The personnel situation for both sides couldn’t be different and could equally play a major roll in the game. Hertha have almost a complete squad to choose from with the only absentees being Cagara and Boateng. Werder on the other hand are initially without the long term injured Borowski, Mertesacker and Klasnic. To add to that list, trainer Schaaf has also to compensate for the suspensions of Aaron Hunt, Hugo Almeida and, most painful of all, Naldo. The Brazilian has had a stunning season, scoring six goals and missing only one previous game, in Leverkusen on the second match day of the season. With eight goals conceded in the last three games, the defence is in question. Thomas Schaaf hasn’t leaked too much information though: “We’ve had several candidates this season who can all play the central roll in the defence. I’d consider Baumann, Fritz, Vranjes or even Christian Schulz.” He question remains as to who the newly formed back four will have to face. Hertha’s top scorer Marko Pantelic scored his twelfth goal of the season against Aachen but, for only the second time this season, was not in the starting eleven. Karsten Heine prefers a system with a lone striker and that could mean Christian Gimenez (11 goals) gets the nod.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Hertha BSC 1 - 4 Werder Bremen

19' [0 - 1] M. Rosenberg
50' [0 - 2] M. Rosenberg
60' [0 - 3] Diego
62' [1 - 3] Gilberto
82' [1 - 4] M. Rosenberg

[Oliver_Kahn]

Great win for Bremen, seems they are still in the title run

[Oliver_Kahn]

VS

MD 33: SV Werder Bremen vs Eintracht Frankfurt
Stadium: Weserstadion, Bremen
Date: Saturday, 12th May, 15:30 C.E.T. (GMT +2)

Quick Bremen stats
Current League Form: WWWLW


This a must win match for Bremen and I can't see them dropping pts at the Weser

[Oliver_Kahn]

Bremen Batter Berlin In The Capital

Werder Bremen have bounced back in the run in to the title race with a highly deserved 4:1 win against Hertha BSC Berlin. The Green-Whites had gone into the game on the back of three defeats but thanks to goals from Markus Roseberg (19’, 50’ and 82’) and one from Diego (60’), Werder registered their return to winning ways. Gilberto did briefly give Hertha a straw to grasp at with a goal in the 61st minute. The club from the capital had been reduced to ten men during the first period after a brutal four by Josip Simunic on Christian Schulz.

Thomas Schaaf was forced into a number of changes in his starting eleven, in relation to the UEFA Cup semi final game against Espanyol, with Naldo, Hugo Almeida and Aaron Hunt all unavailable for the tie in the capital. Tim Wiese returned between the posts whilst Petri Pasanen and Frank Baumann filled the central defensive positions. On the left side of the defence, Piere Womé returned after several weeks out of action which meant Christian Schulz was pushed up into the left side of midfield as was Patrick Owomoyela on the right who played ahead of Clemens Fritz. Up front, Miroslav Klose was joined by Markus Rosenberg.

The 74,220 spectators packed into the Olympia Stadium in Berlin saw the home side make the brighter and fresher looking start of the two with Bastürk and Gilberto causing problems for Werder down the left. It was the Green-Whites who had the first chance of the game though through Diego. Klose had fed the little Brazilian but the Werder playmakers effort flew a good meter over the bar from 20 meters out (12’). Four minutes later, Pierre Womé tested Hertha keeper Christian Fiedler with a powerfully driven, bouncing free-kick from 30 meters out but the keeper was able to punch the ball clear.

Rosenberg pounces

Following a good opening quarter hour for the hosts, Werder raised their own game and put the Berlin club under pressure, winning the midfield challenges, playing determinedly and technically over-powering Hertha. Bremen’s superiority was soon to be turned to goals. Patrick Owomoyela passed to Markus Rosenberg on the left and the Swede hammered an unstoppable shot past Fiedler from 17 meters out to make it 1:0 (19’). Werder were now clearly in the driving seat and despite failing to look very threatening, they never allowed the home side a chance to get back into the game. In the 35th minute, Christian Gimenez did get a sight of Tim Wiese’s goal as Frank Baumann sliced an attempted clearance but luckily for the visitors, the striker lashed his turning effort well over the bar.

Schulz injured – Simunic sees red

Just seconds later there was another shock moment for Werder. Berlin centre half Josip Simunic launched himself towards Christian Schulz, with his boot at head height. The midfield man was caught in the face by the wild challenge of Simunic and suffered a cut to his eye-lid Neither of the players involved were able to continue with Schulz carried off, to be replaced Daniel Jensen, and Simunic correctly seeing red and having to head off for an early bath.

Just before the break, Werder had a couple of chances to double their lead with a drifted effort from Diego and another pile driving free-kick by Womé but as it turned out, the sides went into the break with Werder maintaining their slender lead.

Rosenberg and Diego bury Berlin

Five minutes into the second half, Diego swung a free-kick into the Hertha penalty area where Frank Baumann was able to control the ball and lay back to the on rushing Markus Rosenberg who buried past Fiedler to make it 2:0.

Werder were now flying and looking more relaxed than they had for some time. Instead of sitting back on a comfortable lead, the Green-Whites continued to press and it was with one of the best moves of the day that lead to Bremen’s third. Frings passed to Klose who laid off to Diego with his chest. The Brazilian took on the ball and approached his marker before beating the keeper with a perfect finish from a tight angle – 3:0 (60’).

Gilberto throws Berlin a lifeline – Rosenberg clinches hat-trick

Werder were slow to react from the re-start allowing both Dejagah and Gilberto to come at them before the latter beat Tim Wiese to make it 3:1. Berlin had the wind in their sails and almost managed a second through Bastürk to make for an exciting finish but the Turkish winger couldn’t make good of his chance (67’).

The game swung back and forward for ten further minutes before Werder finally took control of the tie again. Klose (72’), Diego (78’), Rosenberg (80’) and the substitute Vranjes (81’) all had chances to finish Hertha off before the Swede finally clinched his hat-trick after a fine pass from Diego to give the visitors a, not undeserved, 4:1 away win.

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Frankfurt can't trouble Bremen. They'll take full 3 points.

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Big win for Bremen, never expected it though.

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Werder Bremen are still hot on the coat tails of both Stuttgart and Schalke in the final stretch to take the Bundesliga championship and are eager to take three vital points against Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend. For the all important tie, coach Thomas Schaaf will have to make do without the services of Tim Borowski (knee ligament tear) and Per Mertesacker (meniscus tear). Both players were put through their paces by physio Stefan Wolters on Tuesday: “I’ve been putting pressure on for about a week now and I’ve had no problems”, explained Borowski. Per Mertesacker has also been making steady progress: “We had an intensive training session today and things are going very well. I’d really like to get back into the thick of things soon but we will see how long it takes before I can rejoin full team training.”

Werder’s playmaker Diego was absent from training on Tuesday: “Diego and Frank Baumann are both carrying slight knocks but should be back tomorrow”, commented an optimistic Thomas Schaaf who hopes to see the duo back on Wednesday.

Still unclear is the availability of Christian Schulz. The 24 year old picked up a bad eye injury against Hertha BSC Berlin and on Tuesday the German international joined Frank Bauman for some light jogging. On ‘WERDER.TV’ Schulle gave his first interview since Sunday’s horrific challenge by Josip Simunic. He admitted receiving constant scores from the game whilst being stitched in the hospital. The complete interview will be available on WERDER.TV from Wednesday morning.

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The German football league (DFL) have closed their investigation against Bayern Munich because they can't legally prove that the top club violated the rules when their officials met with Werder Bremen striker Miroslav Klose.

DFL managing director Holger Hieronymus told Thursday's edition of Kicker sports magazine that Munich named the meeting informal and Bremen didn't lodge an official protest.

Klose, the Germany striker who has a Bremen contract until 2008, met with Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld and general manager Uli Hoeness on April 24 in Hanover.

By international rules a player can not be approached over a transfer until the final six months of his contract.

There was speculation that Munich want Klose this summer or by 2008 at the latest, but the club insisted the meeting was informal and not a transfer negotiation. Klose has since said he will stay in Bremen next season.

Hieronymus called for tighter rules in Germany similar to those in England, where Chelsea and Ashley Cole were fined €900 000 ($1.2 million) because they held talks one year before his contract with Arsenal expired.

SuperSoccer

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4:1 in Berlin. Torsten Frings has extended his contrac t – Naldo too. What a week for Werder. Now Werder can go into the weekend with plenty of positive signs and prepare to face Eintracht Frankfurt at the Weser Stadium with their tails up. A win could put the perfect end to a perfect week for Werder. And there’s still some work to be done!

No wonder Thomas Schaaf’s side have that swagger in their walk: “The will is there to call up our best. You could feel that all week in training. Everyone is looking forward to the last two games of the season. We could go out and play today we’re that fired up!!”Currently in third place, Werder must win if they are to keep their title hopes alive. “Everyone wants to give their all to achieve the goals we set ourselves for the season. Now we have the opportunity to achieve something exceptional”, remarked Schaaf. Naldo has spoken of having the chance to “Make up for our loses”, having been beaten 3:2 by Bielefeld a couple of weeks ago.

Having lead the pack at the half way stage Werder now need their competitors to slip up: “We’ll have to wait for the two games to be played to see what happens. The sooner one of them makes a mistake the better”, admitted Schaaf. The constellations on the 33rd match day of the season are amazing. Schalke must enter the lions den at their greatest rivals Dortmund in the biggest stadium in the league. Schalke must travel to Bochum with Gekas. VfL have recently seen off Hanover, Leverkusen, Frankfurt, Schalke and HSV. Bochum also still have realistic hopes of making the UEFA Cup. There will be no exceptions at the Weser Stadium at the weekend with all scores and results being displayed on the big screen – as always!! “Most of the fans will be there with radios anyway. We would get the reactions from the stands”, explained Media Director Tino Polster: “We might as well be open about it from the outset and the fans appreciate that.”

Eintract will bring 2,500 fans of their own to add to the atmosphere: “It’s going down to the wire again”, remarked Eintracht coach Friedhel Funkel who will have one eye on Aachen (16th place) against Wolfsburg (15th) in the relegation battle, knowing his side are far from safe. The ‘Eagles’ will be without Weissenberger, Jones, Thurk, Pröll, Meier and Rehmer leaving the coach with probably the same side which sank 4:0 at Aachen. Can they really ruin Werder’s week?

[Oliver_Kahn]

Werder Bremen 1 - 2 Eintracht Frankfurt

13' [0 - 1] I. Amanatidis
34' [1 - 1] A. Hunt
69' [1 - 2] Naldo (o.g.)

[Oliver_Kahn]

Bremen can't win the league anymore, they are now 4 pts behind Stuttgart with 1 game to go.

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Scheiss Bremen. Well done Frankfurters, never ever thought they had a chance to win.
Bremen is very likely to finish 3rd, a CL qualification place.

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MD 34: VfL Wolfsburg vs SV Werder Bremen
Stadium: Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg
Date: Saturday, 19th May, 15:30 C.E.T. (GMT +2)

Quick Bremen stats
Current League Form: WWLWL