Lukimya and Aycicek out, Vestergaard in

Assani Lukimya will miss Sunday's game against VfL Wolfsburg due to an abdomen strain (photo: nph)
First Team
Saturday, 28.02.2015 / 18:20

Another top of the table team visit the Weser-Stadion on Sunday but manager Viktor Skripnik will be without Assani Lukimya for the game against VfL Wolfsburg. The...

Skripnik: “We have to be brave and proactive”

Another team at the top of the table visit the Weser-Stadion on Sunday but manager Viktor Skripnik will be without Assani Lukimya for the game against VfL Wolfsburg. The Congolese centre back will miss the game due to a strain in his abdomen. Skripnik will also be without Levent Aycicek, who missed the final training session, and Fin Bartels, who is suspended. They are still waiting to hear the diagnosis on Aycicek.

There is a chance that Jannik Vestergaard could play in the game that starts at 17:30 CET. The Dane took part in the whole of the final training session and will be an option against the second placed side. The Wolves are the third top team in a row to visit the Weser-Stadion after the visits of Augsburg and Leverkusen. They are an opposition that Werder manager Viktor Skripnik has respect for as "Wolfsburg have a lot of world class players." But he is optimistic of their chances of a fifth win in succession at home.

Manager Viktor Skripnik is expecting a tough game against VfL Wolfsburg (photo: nph)

It's clear that the Niedersachsen club have some of the best quality in the league among their squad, which Skripnik is also aware of. Former Werder players Kevin De Bruyne and Bas Dost have been outstanding recently. But "when you don't concentrate on De Bruyne and Dost then you still have players like Maximilian Arnold and André Schürrle to watch out for," knows Skripnik.
Skripnik's side will face a tough task tomorrow: "You always have to be there on the pitch. You can't give them an inch else you'll get punished," said Skripnik.

But he doesn't believe that the Green-Whites don't have a chance against the side who have qualified for the last 16 of the Europa League. "You have to be brave and proactive against an opposition like that. Everyone has to stick together," said Skripnik. Di Santo, Junuzovic and Co. should all have enough confidence behind them after going six games unbeaten and winning their last five games at home. Werder's manager said that every game is a test for him and his team.

Here is the 18 man squad for the game:

Wolf, Casteels - Garcia, Caldirola, Makiadi, Vestergaard, Fritz, Di Santo, Öztunali, Hajrovic, Prödl, Junuzovic,Kroos, Gebre Selassie, Selke, Eggestein, Sternberg and Fröde.

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