The Bundesliga tie between Eintracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen is the first game for the league leaders following their Champions League ‚Final’ against FC Barcelona.
The Bundesliga tie between Eintracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen is the first game for the league leaders following their Champions League ‚Final’ against FC Barcelona.
The Bundesliga tie between Eintracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen is the first game for the league leaders following their Champions League ‚Final’ against FC Barcelona. For the hosts Eintracht, it is their last game before their continental ‘Final’. On Wednesday, Frankfurt will travel to Fenerbahce Istanbul to fight for a place in the knock-out stages of the UEFA Cup. The side at the bottom of their group will take to the field in the bubbling couldron of the ‘Sükrü Saracoglu’ knowing only a win counts.
The importance of the 16th match day of the season for the two clubs may have been lost in the European challenge surrounding the teams. Eintracht are dreaming of a place in the last sixteen of the UEFA tournament whilst for Werder, Thursday still carried discussion about Barcelona. Head coach Thomas Schaaf knows that just one day after returning from Spain that it is still too early to switch easily back to the daily routine but has the following plan: “Of course we still have a few words to say about the Barcelona game, the team are still evaluating. The disappointment, which is of course still there, will be dealt with when we begin preparing for Eintracht.” The coach is not of the opinion that the defeat in Barcelona could have any effect on the performance of his side: “I don’t see there being any danger of falling into a sporting depression. So far this season the team have been well able to differenciate between the different tournaments.”
“Now the other theme is back on the cards”, commented Schaaf, turning his attention to Saturday’s game when Werder take to the pitch at the Commerzbank-Arena. “We want to have a positive end to the season and solidify our position by playing well and getting points. Being in top spot over winter is fantastic and that is something we want to achieve”, remarked Schaaf who knows what he needs from the last two Bundesliga games of 2006. First up, Frankfurt! The league leaders will be facing an Eintract side which has displayed a surprisingly successful first round. Prior to the season the trainer Friedhelm Funkel set his goal as remaining in the top flight – at the moment his side are in eight place having lost only three games, exactly as many as Werder. Bremen will clash with the ‘Draw’ champions of the league, having taken just one point on eight occasions. Seven of which came right at the start of the season, as Eintracht started the season with eight games undefeated. It wasn’t until the end of October that Bayern Munich beat them 2:0 that Frankfurt left the field of play empty handed.
In their more recent outings, the ‘Eagles’ have had their ups and downs. Two defeats (0:3 at home against Armenia Bielefeld and 3:4 in Bochum), a draw against Borussia Dortmund and a spectacular 3:2 win against Alemannia Aachen. During that particular game, Japanese international Naohiro Takahara catapulted himself to the top of the internal scorer list with a hat-trick, as many goals as he had scored in the previous ten games. Werder beware!! All of Takahara’s goals came in the four games which Eintracht won this season. Thaomas Schaaf expects the signing from Hamburg to be the only out-and-out striker against his side with either Streit, Meier or Thurk supporting. Thurk who made a late decision to make his move to the financial metropolis from Mainz will return to the squad after injury. Funkel will have to make do without his second best striker Ioannis Amanatidis (5 goals) who tore ankle ligaments against Newcastle in the UEFA Cup.
Thomas Schaaf summed up his opponents as “Very determined, willing to run and very compact”, whilst again returning his thoughts to Europe. “They are experiencing a challenge there that they are not used to.” Advantage for Bremen? The Green-Whites have the advantage in the record books. Werder have beaten the ‘Eagles’ on the last five league challenges between the two. Last season there was a 4:1 win in Bremen and an important 1:0 in Frankfurt. All together Werder have won 34 of their 74 Bundesliga games against Eintracht. 25 matches were lost and 15 finished with the points being shared. This time around there are 4,000 Werder fans who will make the long journey expecting their side to take all three points. Those still wishing to make the trip can secure tickets at the World Cup stadium on match day.
Johnnie Muldoon
