On Friday afternoon, the draw was made for the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. As a result, Werder Bremen take up a place in Group L along with current Austrian league...
On Friday afternoon, the draw was made for the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. As a result, Werder Bremen take up a place in Group L along with current Austrian league...
On Friday afternoon, the draw was made for the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. As a result, Werder Bremen take up a place in Group L along with current Austrian league leaders FK Austria Wien, Athletic Bilbao from Spain and Portugal’s CD Nacional Funchal. The fixture schedule was announced at the same time and all games will be televised live by 'SKY'.
Werder’s group schedule at a glance:
1st match day, 17.09.2009, 9:05pm: Nacional Funchal – Werder Bremen
2nd match day, 01.10.2009, 7pm: Werder Bremen – Athletic Bilbao
3rd match day, 22.10.2009, 7pm,: Austria Wien – Werder Bremen
4th match day, 05.11.2009, 9:05pm: Werder Bremen – Austria Wien
5th match day, 03.12.2009, 7pm: Werder Bremen - Nacional Funchal
6th match day, 16.12.2009. 9:05pm: Athletic Bilbao – Werder Bremen
On the subject of the German-Austrian clash, between the cup winners from the relative nations, Werder trainer Thomas Schaaf is expecting: "A very interesting game when we play in Vienna." From Athletic Bilbao, who finished in 13th place in Spain’s Premira División last term, Schaaf spoke of a "very, very good team, in spite of the fact that they didn’t do quite so well in the league last season. In recent years they have again and again done some very exceptional things – especially considering that the fact that their players come exclusively from the Basque region." The least well known side in Group L is undoubtedly Funchal, who according to the Werder trainer are "certainly the team that surprised most by eliminating the 2008 UEFA Cup winners Zenith St. Petersburg. Everyone knows that the Portuguese are good footballers."
Commenting on the group as a whole, Schaaf said: "All in all, every game has its attractive aspects. On paper we have every chance of progressing so long as our self-confidence doesn’t cause us to be negligent or arrogant. Performing at our best, we can progress and we expect that of ourselves."
Claudio Pizzaro, who was on target twice on Thursday evening, is convinced that he and his colleagues can meet the demands of the club bosses: "A good draw! I think the group is doable. We want to finish top of the group and I believe we can achieve that. I know the side from Bilbao, but Austria Wien and Nacional Funchal are less familiar."
