The fate of Armenia Bielefeld’s season could lie in the hands of Werder Bremen. Following the clash between the two on the 14th match day of the season, he West Phalian clubs season has taken a distinct turn for the worse.
The fate of Armenia Bielefeld’s season could lie in the hands of Werder Bremen. Following the clash between the two on the 14th match day of the season, he West Phalian clubs season has taken a distinct turn for the worse.
The fate of Armenia Bielefeld’s season could lie in the hands of Werder Bremen. Following the clash between the two on the 14th match day of the season, he West Phalian clubs season has taken a distinct turn for the worse. From the sixteen games they have played since that 3:0 defeat (goals by Klose 2, and Hunt), Bielefeld have only managed three wins. It took Armenia ten attempts to pick up a three pointer following their defeat at the Weser Stadium – a 3:2 win against Nuremberg. When Werder take to the pitch at the SchücoArena on Sunday, 29.04.2007, they will not be facing an unexpected sixth placed side, as they Bielefeld were when they last met, but rather a club fourth from bottom and in serious danger of relegation. Only a more positive goal difference seperates Werder’s next opponents from the drop zone.
The trend in the last four games has shown a slight upwards curve. A 1:0 win against Dortmund saw Borussia slip into the danger zone. Then Bielefeld drew 1:1 with Hertha BSC Berlin before beating VfL Wolfsburg 3:2 last weekend. Despite their recent 4:2 defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt, Thomas Schaaf commented: “Bielfeld have been tanking up on points and confidence. Now they want to pick up decisive points in their bid to stay in the top flight in front of their own fans.”
The points could well and truly be decisive for Werder Bremen too. There are now only four games to go and the gap between the Green-Whites and Schalke 04 so narrow that a win would see Bremen return to the top of the league. Points are also vital in keeping VfB Stuttgart at bay. Having just returned from a disappointing trip to Barcelona in the UEFA Cup, general manager Klaus Allofs sees the game against Bielefeld as pivotal in Werder’s season: “Yesterday was an important game but Sunday’s match is even more important.” The 3:0 defeat at the Olympia Stadium against Espanyol has lead to the Bundesliga taking yet higher priority and Thomas Schaaf sees the loss as having a positive aspect: “The result against Espanyol hurt and that’s a good basis for preparing for the next game.”
Bielefeld coach Ernst Middendorp is wary of the current situation: “Werder are wounded and they will to immediately erase the impression they left in Barcelona.” Thomas Schaaf sees things slightly differently: “We are tired and burning with anger on the inside. I’m convinced that the team will show a reaction.” Earlier in the season Middendorp tipped Werder to take the title and his opinion hasn’t changed much: “It would be wrong to think that this is just a ‘normal’ bunch of players. Werder possess the qualities of a top club – all internationals, eleven massive powers.”
On their home turf, Bielefeld have a respectable record against Werder, especially back in the days when the ‘SchücoArena’ was known ‘Alm’. The Green-Whites took the three points last season thanks to a single goal by Frank Fahrenhorst but Werder have lost four of their last five games in Bielefeld. Werder’s expectations this season are extremely high despite the disappointment of the UEFA Cup defeat: “The chances of us not achieving our goals for this season are just as high as the chances of winning the league, winning the UEFA Cup and putting on a top performance against Bielefeld on Sunday”, declared Schaaf. Ivan Klasnic (kidney transplant), Tim Borowski (ligament damage) and Per Mertesacker (knee operation) will all be unavailable to Schaaf in Bielefeld but both Markus Rosenberg and Peter Niemeyer are free to play. Andreas Reinke will replace Tim Wiese between the post to gain some match practice ahead of the UEFA Cup second leg tie on Thursday. Wiese has incurred a one match suspension following his red card in Barcelona. For Armenia, Abdelaziz Ahanfouf is definitely out with an ankle injury and Sibusiso Zuma is doubtful.
Johnnie Muldoon
