Some pre-match facts for the game between Wolfsburg-Bremen;

  • 32 Bundesliga fixtures have been played between the two sides. 12 have ended as Wolfsburg wins to Bremen's 13.
  • Bremen have a better record against Wolfsburg at the VW Arena - narrowly edging six wins to Wolfsburg's five.
  • Wolfsburg biggest win in this fixture at home was the 5-1 thrasing of Bremen - at the end of the 2008/09 season in which Die Wölfe (The Wolves) famously won the title.
  • However, Werder's biggest win at the VW Arena was the 7-2 humiliation from 1999/2000 season. 
  • Wolfsburg are undefeated against Werder Bremen in the last three Bundesliga meetings, whilst losing only one of the last six. 
  • Bremen have scored 71 goals in 36 fixtures against Wolfsburg - compared to the home sides 56.

This game comes at a time when both sides are matched. A chance for one to get the upper hand on another and climb the table. A lots at stake; with either side being able to climb as high as fourth, or drop as low as sixteenth. 

It will be an emotional time for the former Werder Bremen trio; Diego, Naldo and Klaus Allofs. The former two, previously plying their trade with Bremen, will always have a place in their heart for Die Grün-Weißen (Green-Whites). Allofs faces his former employees for just the third time since his departure. Allofs cut his thirteen year association with Werder Bremen, switching to rivals Wolfsburg to become their Sporting Director in  November 2012. Currently, Allofs is planning to implement a similar long-term project at Wolfsburg; which was proven effective at Bremen. 

There's also a reunion for a former Wolfsburg man in Bremen's ranks; Cédric Makiadi. It's his first appearance for Wolfsburg's rivals since arriving. 

A few injury concerns for both sides lurk. For travelling Werder Bremen, a shortage of strikers could prove costly. Both Franco Di Santo and Nils Petersen have been sidelined due to injury concerns. Youngster, Martin Kobylanski could debutise in their absences. A chance for the youngster to prove his worth to Robin Dutt. Other than the striker conundrum, there are no fresh injury worries for Dutt ahead of his sides trip to the VW Arena. 

As for Wolfsburg, they're not having the best of time with injuries. Ja-Cheol Koo and Christian Träsch have both received the news that they will spend six weeks on the sidelines; with ligament and metatarsal injuries respectively. Both will be big losses for Die Wölfe. Patrick Ochs and Slobodan Medojevic are both expected to fill the void again, after doing so against Augsburg. Vierinha is a long-term absentee whilst outcast Felipe Lopes is also unavailable with an ankle injury. The game also comes to soon for Bas Dost, who stepped up his return to the first team midweek. 

However the game shapes out, it should be an entertaining fixture. They've provided thrills and spills in recent years. Hopefully it continues in similar fashion. Enjoy the game!