Two teams that have enjoyed almost polar opposite starts to the second half of this Bundesliga season are Werder Bremen and Borussia Mönchengladbach. The team from up north shocked Schalke at the Veltins Arena two weeks ago before coming back from 3-1 down to secure a valuable point against third-placed Hertha BSC last weekend. Gladbach on the other hand are yet to pick up a single point in 2016, losing to Borussia Dortmund and Mainz 05. As fate would have it, the two teams meet in the Friday night fixture this weekend, and it’s certainly not an easy match to call.
In what is the 100th meeting between the two clubs, an in-form Werder side boosted by the signings of Yatabaré, Veljkovic and Djilobodji travel to Mönchengladbach to face Schubert’s injury-hit Champions League hopefuls. A win for Werder would be their third win over Gladbach this season alone, and it seems that the omens are in their favour. Gladbach have just one point (and no goals) from their last six Friday night matches, and come up against a Werder side that have scored the most goals (6) out of any team so far in 2016. Unlike the famous ‘Town Musicians of Bremen,’ the Werder players seem to find success when they leave Bremen, having picked up a staggering 74% of their total points this season on their travels.
Pizarro milestone
It could be a big night for Claudio Pizarro, who will be looking to make his 400th Bundesliga appearance at the age of 37. After scoring a brace last weekend, he is now the sixth highest goalscorer in Bundesliga history with 181 goals – not a bad option to have upfront. It’s not all doom and gloom for Gladbach however, as a win would take them back into the Champions League spaces. Furthermore, they have scored in eleven of twelve home games under manager Schubert in all competitions this season and welcome a Werder team who are enduring their worst campaign in 41 years. Kick-off: 20:30 CET.
Two teams that have enjoyed almost polar opposite starts to the second half of this Bundesliga season are Werder Bremen and Borussia Mönchengladbach. The team from up north shocked Schalke at the Veltins Arena two weeks ago before coming back from 3-1 down to secure a valuable point against third-placed Hertha BSC last weekend. Gladbach on the other hand are yet to pick up a single point in 2016, losing to Borussia Dortmund and Mainz 05. As fate would have it, the two teams meet in the Friday night fixture this weekend, and it’s certainly not an easy match to call.
In what is the 100th meeting between the two clubs, an in-form Werder side boosted by the signings of Yatabaré, Veljkovic and Djilobodji travel to Mönchengladbach to face Schubert’s injury-hit Champions League hopefuls. A win for Werder would be their third win over Gladbach this season alone, and it seems that the omens are in their favour. Gladbach have just one point (and no goals) from their last six Friday night matches, and come up against a Werder side that have scored the most goals (6) out of any team so far in 2016. Unlike the famous ‘Town Musicians of Bremen,’ the Werder players seem to find success when they leave Bremen, having picked up a staggering 74% of their total points this season on their travels.
Pizarro milestone
It could be a big night for Claudio Pizarro, who will be looking to make his 400th Bundesliga appearance at the age of 37. After scoring a brace last weekend, he is now the sixth highest goalscorer in Bundesliga history with 181 goals – not a bad option to have upfront. It’s not all doom and gloom for Gladbach however, as a win would take them back into the Champions League spaces. Furthermore, they have scored in eleven of twelve home games under manager Schubert in all competitions this season and welcome a Werder team who are enduring their worst campaign in 41 years. Kick-off: 20:30 CET.
