Werder Bremen will be aiming to make it four wins from five home games in the Bundesliga when they host Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.
The visitors, meanwhile, have improved in recent weeks to claim 10 points from their last four matches.
Match preview
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Having collected only six points from their opening eight games - which included 4-2 defeats to newly promoted sides Heidenheim and SV Darmstadt 98 - Werder Bremen would have held huge concerns about the prospect of being involved in a relegation battle this season.
While that could still prove to be the case, beating Union Berlin 2-0 and drawing 2-2 away to Wolfsburg in their last two games has clearly improved Die Werderaner's position in the table and general outlook on their aims for the campaign.
Ole Werner's side moved quickly out of the blocks following their promotion last season, meaning they developed enough of a buffer to avoid any relegation trouble, despite winning just one of their last 12 games of the campaign. The 35-year-old will be hoping for a similar situation this time around, albeit without repeating that terrible run of form during the season's closing stages.
Avoiding defeat at Wolfsburg is certainly a sign that they are on the right track, as Niko Kovac's side had won three of their four home games this season, with only league leaders Bayer Leverkusen getting the better of the Wolves at the Volkswagen Arena. Werder Bremen have been impressive themselves at home so far this season - taking nine points from five matches - and they will be desperate to continue that on Sunday.
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However, that may not be an easy task given that Frankfurt appear to have clicked into gear under their new manager Dino Toppmoller, who replaced Oliver Glasner during the summer. After failing to win five straight league games - albeit four of them ended as draws - Die Adler have since won three and drawn one to close the gap on the top six sides in the table.
Omar Marmoush's early brace set up a comfortable victory for his side away to Union Berlin last weekend, with Nacho Ferri's late strike confirming their opponents' 12th successive defeat in all competitions. It was a ruthless display from Frankfurt, who scored three goals from only four shots across the course of the encounter, as they impressively kept Urs Fischer's side at arm's length in the capital.
On Thursday, Toppmoller's side booked their place in the knockout stages of the Europa Conference League by beating HJK Helsinki 1-0 in the Finnish capital. If Frankfurt can beat Greek side PAOK on the next matchday, topping Group G will be in their own hands.
Having moved within four points of third-placed Stuttgart with their most recent league win, Toppmoller and his players may have dreams of qualifying for the Champions League once again, although in truth they would likely be content with their current position having lost star striker Randal Kolo Muani to Paris Saint-Germain towards the end of the summer transfer window.
Team News
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Werder Bremen may be without Christian Gross, Jiri Pavlenka and Naby Keita due to minor muscle injuries, with Werner likely to err on the side of caution given that the trio will be able to get themselves fully fit during the upcoming international break.
Nicolai Rapp and Dawid Kownacki are both doubts due to injury, with Werner unlikely to make any changes to the starting XI that performed well when claiming a point away to Wolfsburg last time out. As such, Marvin Ducksch and Rafael Santos Borre will continue to build on their partnership in attack.
Frankfurt, meanwhile, will remain without Simon Simoni and club captain Sebastian Rode due to elbow and calf issues respectively; Tuta is also a doubt due to a shoulder injury, meaning Hrvoje Smolcic may be drafted into the visitors' defensive unit.
Mario Gotze appears to have a task on his hands to reclaim a place in Toppmoller's starting XI, with Ansgar Knauff and Fares Chaibi seemingly preferred by the 42-year-old in terms of supporting Marmoush in attack.
Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:
Zetterer; Veljkovic, Friedl, Jung; Weiser, Schmid, Stage, Bittencourt, Deman; Borre, Ducksch
Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Smolcic, Koch, Pacho; Ebimbe, Larsson, Skhiri, Max; Chaibi, Knauff; Marmoush
We say: Werder Bremen 2-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Only Bayern Munich have posted a stronger defensive record than Frankfurt after the opening 10 games, but Toppmoller's side will be tested by Werder Bremen's attacking potency, especially having competed in Europe on Thursday evening.
Only VfL Bochum have drawn as many games as Frankfurt (five) after 10 matches this season, and we can envisage the visitors having to share the spoils once again in an entertaining encounter, which is a result neither manager would likely be disappointed with.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Brett Curtis
