Werder Bremen have endured a tough season and a half. Last season they had a close scrape with relegation, while this season they haven’t exactly enjoyed a fantastic campaign.
On Saturday afternoon though, they have a real chance to create a healthy gap between themselves and the bottom three when Florian Kohfeldt’s team host struggling Schalke.
Werder’s form has improved of late, as the hosts have now won two of their last three Bundesliga outings, including a 4-1 win at Hertha Berlin last time out. The win moved the home side six points clear of the relegation play-off spot. However, they will know that there is little room for complacency.
The home side will need to up their game at home if they are to continue to move clear of that dreaded relegation play-off spot, as they have won just one of their previous six league games at Weserstadion. A 2-0 win in their last home game in the top-flight ended a three-match losing streak on home soil for Werder Bremen.
Schalke continue to slump closer to the German second tier. The Royal Blues are now eight points adrift of the relegation play-off spot and ten points off safety. They now seemed doomed to life in Bundesliga.2 next season.
A 4-1 defeat against reigning champions Bayern Munich last time out in the Bundesliga means that the visitors have suffered defeat in six of their last seven matches in the German top-flight.
Head coach Christian Gross has an almost impossible job on his hands to revive a team that has won just once in 34 outings in the Bundesliga.
The improvement must start in defence, as Schalke have now conceded at least two goals in 11 of their previous 12 matches in the German top-flight.
Forebet predicts that Werder Bremen will record a victory in a high-scoring encounter to move more comfortably clear of the relegation play-off spot.