The tension is rising to near boiling point with just one day to go before Werder meet Basel for their Champions League qualifier second leg tie. A determined Werder still have the sights set on taking their place in the first round proper despite trailing 2:1 after the first leg.
Both sides had a successful dress rehersal prior to their big clash. While Werder were doing their job in the cup beating SG Wattenscheid 3:1, FC Basel stormed back to the top of the Swiss "Super League" table with a 7:2 demolition of FC Aarau. Christian Gross side had slipped behind FC Thun having only drawn 3:3 with St. Gallen. The current Swiss title holders managed to fit in a friendly between their last two league games against third division side SV Muttenz, which they won 3:1. Fc Basel landed in Bremen on Tuesday morning and will take part in a 6:15pm press conference followed by a training session in the Weser stadium at 7pm.
70% of Basel Fans Confident Of Progression
Werder Bremen who are also unbeaten since the first leg (2:0 in Mainz and the cup), will train at 3:30pm on Tuesday and then hold a 5:15pm press conference. Both sides will have their final pre-match training at 10am on Wednesday morning before their 8:45pm showdown. Three extra ticket booths will be selling tickets right up till kick-off around the Weser Stadium.
Approximately 1,000 optimistic fans are expected to travel for the game. The results of an internet survey have indicated that 70% of Basel fans expect their side to progress. Before the first game the figure was just 58%. The Green-Whites intend to prove on Wednesday that the majority are not always right.