The Werder players only had a couple days to digest their UEFA Cup triumph over AC Milan with the usual Bundesliga grind awaiting the Green-Whites. But this weekend will be anything but usual as Bayern Munich...
The Werder players only had a couple days to digest their UEFA Cup triumph over AC Milan with the usual Bundesliga grind awaiting the Green-Whites. But this weekend will be anything but usual as Bayern Munich...
The Werder players only had a couple days to digest their UEFA Cup triumph over AC Milan with the usual Bundesliga grind awaiting the Green-Whites. But this weekend will be anything but usual as Bayern Munich arrive for an encounter on Sunday, 1 March 2009 at 5 p.m. at Weser Stadion. And showdowns with the record champions always have a special flair - as all Werder fans, big and small, know.
The "North-South Summit" is about more than just three points - at stake is also prestige. Knocking off the perennial title favourites from Munich would do the much-scolded Werder soul much good. And with a spot in the UEFA Cup Round of 16 now secured, three points against Munich could serve as the final spark the Bremen club needs to find its way again in the Bundesliga. "The game in Milan gave us self-confidence and self-assurance. We want to keep that going. It doesn't hurt us now to have an opponent like Bayen," said Werder head coach Thomas Schaaf.
That means Werder are happy to be facing a "big" club after the Milan game. Breman have struggled throughout the season against the so-called "small" clubs, especially coming on the heels of a strong performance. Werder just seem to play better against the "big" teams, and Bayern without a doubt are a very "big" team. Werder will not have to worry about underestimating their guests, even though head coach Jürgen Klinsmann's Bayern have struggled a bit in the Bundesliga. The defending champions have lost their last two domestic matches 2-1 at Hertha Berlin and at home against Cologne.
The following 18 players are on the Green-Whites squad against Bayern Munich:
Vander, Mielitz - Boenisch, Pasanen, Naldo, Baumann, Fritz, Rosenberg, Diego, Özil, Prödl, Tziolis, Jensen, Frings, Almeida, Pizarro, Mertesacker, Harnik.
