Exciting Leverkusen visit battling Bremen
Werder Bremen’s battle against relegation from what would be the club’s first drop into the second tier for 40 years continues on Monday evening. The 2003/04 Bundesliga champions host Bayer Leverkusen who sit fifth, Bremen are four points behind Fortuna Dusseldorf who occupy the relegation playoff spot in 16th. The opportunity this match presents for the strugglers will be all the more intense depending on the result of Fortuna versus Paderborn on Saturday, with a positive result for the visitors in that fixture being preferred in Bremen’s situation. Though it could see them hit the foot of the table in the process, sometimes you have to reach rock bottom to move up again, it is set up as 10 cup finals remaining for the River Islanders to save their topflight status.
Background
The statistics are grim reading for Bremen coming into this match, however Florian Kohfeldt’s side have had time to reflect on there shortcomings and prepare for this 10-game mini tournament to save their bacon. They hold the worst home record in the division picking up just five points all season, concerningly for the hosts Leverkusen boast the third best away record, reaping 22 points from 12 trips. It is clear to see in the recent form who the suspension came at a better time for.
- Werder Bremen last six – 1D and 5L.
- Bayer Leverkusen last six – 4W, 1D and 1L.
Ones to watch
Kosovan winger Milot Rashica has been the brightest spark in a desperately poor campaign by Bremen’s standards. Now in his third season with club, still only 23, he has contributed 10 goals and five assists from 24 outings. The £6.3million signing in January 2018 from Vitesse Arnhem looks to be a great investment from the club with the likes of RB Leipzig set to swoop in for his services, with negotiations being a lot more straightforward should the side slip into the Bundesliga 2.
Next up is another January signing but more recent, young defender Edmund Tapsoba. The 21-year-old Burkina Faso international arrived from Guimaraes of the Primeira Liga and to say he has hit the ground running would be an understatement. Tapsoba has completely transformed the Leverkusen backline adding such stability and reliability, allowing the flair to flourish at the top end of the pitch without worrying about the possible consequences of over-committing. His impact has been likened in the short term to that of Virgil Van Dijk at Liverpool.
Thirdly and to continue the defensive minded trend, Sven Bender is a player who does not get a lot of praise but is a crucial consistent cog in Peter Bosz’s Champions League chasing engine. With seven caps for Germany and bags of experience in the Bundesliga, Bender is one of the experienced heads in a youthful dressing room, aged 31. His versatility as a holding midfielder who can just as competently slot into the back four is massive, giving Bosz great flexibility.
Form is not everything as we enter what feels like a new season or one-off tournament, Leverkusen cannot afford to count their chickens. There will be a rearguard action from Werder.
Werder Bremen – Bayer Leverkusen Betting Tip
Werder Bremen (+1.25) Handicap + Werder Bremen to Score Under 1.5 goals with bet365 at odds of 27/25 or 2.07.
Bet Werder Bremen (+1.25) Handicap + Werder Bremen to Score Under 1.5 goals on Bet365
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
Werder Bremen got a foothold in the game but were outclassed in the end by a very impressive Leverkusen. Kerem Demirbay was an absolute Rolls Royce dictating proceedings.