Teams | May 2, 2014 at 10:26 PM
Pride at stake in Bremen
Pride at stake in Bremen
Hertha BSC's final away game of the season is in Bremen on Saturday (03.05.14).
Berlin - There are only two Bundesliga matchdays to go this season and relegation and European qualification are still not decided. Some could say that as Werder Bremen host Hertha BSC neither team has anything to play for after recently securing top flight status for next term. Whoever believes that the teams will just stroll through Saturday's clash at the Weserstadion will be disappointed. because as Hertha coach Jos Luhukay rightly pointed out: "From now on we are playing for pride. Bremen want a positive result for their fine fans in their final home game but we want to spring a surprise."
Hertha's top goal scorer Adrian Ramos (16 goals) returns to the team after being brought on after 62 minutes of the 2-0home win over rock-bottom Eintracht Braunschweig last time out. The Dortmund-bound Columbian has looked sharp in training this week and appears to be approaching full fitness again. Not so Tolga Cigerci, who was forced off in that game with a bruised ankle which rules him out of the trip to Bremen. It is known that captain Fabian Lustenberger will not play against this season but that doesn't make it less painful to take. Luhukay is also without Alexander Baumjohann, who played well against Braunschweig on his comeback. But now the creative midfielder has the flu and has remained in the capital city.
More success against Werder?
Although Hertha knew before kick off last weekend that they had secured top flight status for next season, that was not apparent in the way they faced the game. The team showed Braunschweig from the opening minute that the points were destined to remain in Berlin. That day, goals from Brooks (61.) and Allagui (77.) secured Hertha's first home win of 2014 - which was a huge relief for the team and fans alike. Now though it is all about consolidating that victory with success in Bremen. Hertha's last win on their travels was in Stuttgart on matchday 22. At the time Hertha were third in the Bundesliga away table. The team only collected two points from their next five away games. Luhukay: "We must keep things tight at the back, accept and win challenges and quickly switch from defence to attack in order to score a goal or two."
SV Werder Bremen also secured Bundesliga status late time out. Relief yes, but euphoric delight? far from it. Werder still have their season goal of 40 points to fight four: "We can reach that goal and are prepared to give everything in order to achieve it. We must be fully focused in our final two games of the season", says Werder manager Eichin ahead of the game. With 36 points to their name right now, Bremen cannot afford another defeat if they want to reach their target: "Of course we want to end our home season on a positive note. We have been working hard towards it all week", revealed Bremen midfielder Junuzovic.
Garcia's euphoric signing
Bremen's injury situation slightly improved this week. Although coach Robin Dutt is without tricky Pole Ludovic Obraniak becuase of an ankle problem, things are looking slightly better for former VfL Wolfsburg man Cedrick Makiadi, who missed a lot of training with a hamstring problem. A late fitness test will determine whether or not he will be able to face Hertha. Werder recently made the loan deal of Argentine-born Santiago Garcia a permanent deal. That move has really boosted the Bremen squad and fans who are apparently "euphoric" that the deal has been completed. Werder have shown some useful home form this season too, losing only one of their last six at the Weserstadion. They approach Saturday’s encounter with justified confidence.
"We owe our fans in our final home game of the season. We must remain wide awake. There is no reason to sit back and rest on any laurels", knows Werder skipper Clemenz Fritz. The former Bremen and now Hertha defender peter Niemeyer expects an open game. He explained this week: "You take the feeling from the final games into the new season with you, so I think our final two matches are important and we want to end them as well as possible." Luhukay expects an interesting clash and reckons that both sides will be playing to win. Hertha manager Michael Preetz: "Our team have battled their way out of a dip in form and now can't wait to finish the season on a high."
Possible line-ups:
Werder Bremen: Wolf - Fritz, Prödl, Caldirola, Garcia - Gebre Selassie, Bargfrede, Junuzovic, Makiadi - di Santo, Hunt
Hertha BSC: Kraft - Pekarik, Langkamp, Brooks, van den Bergh - Hosogai, Niemeyer - Ben-Hatira, Skjelbred, Allagui - Ramos
Hertha's top goal scorer Adrian Ramos (16 goals) returns to the team after being brought on after 62 minutes of the 2-0home win over rock-bottom Eintracht Braunschweig last time out. The Dortmund-bound Columbian has looked sharp in training this week and appears to be approaching full fitness again. Not so Tolga Cigerci, who was forced off in that game with a bruised ankle which rules him out of the trip to Bremen. It is known that captain Fabian Lustenberger will not play against this season but that doesn't make it less painful to take. Luhukay is also without Alexander Baumjohann, who played well against Braunschweig on his comeback. But now the creative midfielder has the flu and has remained in the capital city.
More success against Werder?
Although Hertha knew before kick off last weekend that they had secured top flight status for next season, that was not apparent in the way they faced the game. The team showed Braunschweig from the opening minute that the points were destined to remain in Berlin. That day, goals from Brooks (61.) and Allagui (77.) secured Hertha's first home win of 2014 - which was a huge relief for the team and fans alike. Now though it is all about consolidating that victory with success in Bremen. Hertha's last win on their travels was in Stuttgart on matchday 22. At the time Hertha were third in the Bundesliga away table. The team only collected two points from their next five away games. Luhukay: "We must keep things tight at the back, accept and win challenges and quickly switch from defence to attack in order to score a goal or two."
SV Werder Bremen also secured Bundesliga status late time out. Relief yes, but euphoric delight? far from it. Werder still have their season goal of 40 points to fight four: "We can reach that goal and are prepared to give everything in order to achieve it. We must be fully focused in our final two games of the season", says Werder manager Eichin ahead of the game. With 36 points to their name right now, Bremen cannot afford another defeat if they want to reach their target: "Of course we want to end our home season on a positive note. We have been working hard towards it all week", revealed Bremen midfielder Junuzovic.
Garcia's euphoric signing
Bremen's injury situation slightly improved this week. Although coach Robin Dutt is without tricky Pole Ludovic Obraniak becuase of an ankle problem, things are looking slightly better for former VfL Wolfsburg man Cedrick Makiadi, who missed a lot of training with a hamstring problem. A late fitness test will determine whether or not he will be able to face Hertha. Werder recently made the loan deal of Argentine-born Santiago Garcia a permanent deal. That move has really boosted the Bremen squad and fans who are apparently "euphoric" that the deal has been completed. Werder have shown some useful home form this season too, losing only one of their last six at the Weserstadion. They approach Saturday’s encounter with justified confidence.
"We owe our fans in our final home game of the season. We must remain wide awake. There is no reason to sit back and rest on any laurels", knows Werder skipper Clemenz Fritz. The former Bremen and now Hertha defender peter Niemeyer expects an open game. He explained this week: "You take the feeling from the final games into the new season with you, so I think our final two matches are important and we want to end them as well as possible." Luhukay expects an interesting clash and reckons that both sides will be playing to win. Hertha manager Michael Preetz: "Our team have battled their way out of a dip in form and now can't wait to finish the season on a high."
Possible line-ups:
Werder Bremen: Wolf - Fritz, Prödl, Caldirola, Garcia - Gebre Selassie, Bargfrede, Junuzovic, Makiadi - di Santo, Hunt
Hertha BSC: Kraft - Pekarik, Langkamp, Brooks, van den Bergh - Hosogai, Niemeyer - Ben-Hatira, Skjelbred, Allagui - Ramos