„In Brazil we call such games ‚Clássico’ – a classic, explained Diego. These games are the ones when the best in the league clash and championships can be decided.
„In Brazil we call such games ‚Clássico’ – a classic, explained Diego. These games are the ones when the best in the league clash and championships can be decided.
„In Brazil we call such games ‚Clássico’ – a classic, explained Diego. These games are the ones when the best in the league clash and championships can be decided. Just like Flamengo versus Fluminense Rio de Janeiro, Boca Juniors against River Plate Buenos Aires or Real Madrid versus FC Barcelona – the games of the season. The home game of the season. Bayern Munich are coming to Bremen.
“They are the champions which would mean they are a step ahead of us”, said general manager Klaus Allofs. With a five point jump on Werder the Munich club clinched their 20th title in May. In the new century Bayern have won five championships with only Werder and Borussia Dortmund upsetting the apple cart. The last two titles went to Felix magath who has been coach since July 2004. In 2005 and 2006, Magath also won the DFB Cup – the only team to manage back-to-back doubles.
An impressive record of success, and that without playing particularly attractive football. “We play better football”, in the opinion of Klaus Allofs. So far this season, Werder have managed to keep their nose in front thanks to attractive football and intend to extend their lead in Saturday’s top game. Thomas Schaaf commented: “We want to do all in our power to perform and produce at a level that suits our position in the table. We want to continue what we’ve begun in recent games and play bravely. The latest wins were very important and that without conceding any goals and that gives us added confidence. We hope to document that on Saturday. We want to offer the fans something and perform at our best.”
Just like Werder, Bayern have also had an unsatisfactory start to the season. Ten of their players joined the pre-season training late on after a gruelling World cup tournament. Two wins in the first two games against Dortmund and Bochum looked like another positive season start but in the following five games could only mark up two further wins. FC Nuremburg took a point away from the Allianz Arena and both Bielefeld and Wolfsburg could keep all three points at home when Bayern came to visit. It’s only with luck that the Munich club remain so high up in the table, just like the Bremen club.
The club have been having some problems harmonising and re-setting the team structure after the departure to FC Chelsea of playmaker Michael Ballack. Old hands such as Zé Roberto and Bixente Lizarazu have been missing too. As new additions, Bayern have taken on Daniel van Buyten, Christian Lell and Lukas Podolski. So far only the Belgian defender, who came from HSV, has played his way into a regular spot in the first team. To add to their woes came the serious injuries to defender Valerian Ismael (double leg break) and Owen Hargreaves (leg break). The Munich heads went on a wide search for a guiding force and were eventually successful as they stopped in Barcelona. The Dutch defender Mark van Bommel has slotted in well in the centre of midfield and has produced goals and good performances en mass since his arrival.
Bayern have proven that they are a force, even in difficult times, with solid performances in the Champions League. Nine points from three games against Sparta Moscow, Inter Milan and Sporting Lisbon is an impressive record especially when considering that they failed to concede in either of their two away games. Werder have respect for their opponents: “We can’t afford to play against Bayern as we did against Sofia”, said Miroslav Klose, “We will have to improve.” If they are to continues their strong record against the Munich ‘Reds’. Werder have won 18 of their Bundesliga ties against Bayern at the Weser Stadium, with the guests winning nine times and the other 13 games finishing in draws. A record that they are sure to gain confidence from – which shouldn’t be a problem in Bremen. “We have no need to change our style of play”, remarked Diego, and Torsten Frings added: “We can beat them”. The fans will want to see their Bavarian counterparts returning home with their tails tucked firmly between their ‘Lederhosened’ legs.
