Werder Bremen vs Union Berlin preview: Grün-Weißen look to continue winning run

In the final round of fixtures before the winter break, Werder Bremen are looking to secure a third straight win in all competitions as they welcome Union Berlin to Weserstadion on Saturday.

Werder Bremen

With 22 points from 14 gameweeks, Bremen are enjoying their best start to a Bundesliga season in 13 years under head coach Ole Werner. Die Grün-Weißen are looking to extend their winning streak to four matches this weekend after Bundesliga wins against Bochum and St. Pauli, as well as a DFB-Pokal triumph against Darmstadt.

If Werder are to continue their winning run, it would mark their first three-match winning streak in the Bundesliga since a run at the turn of the year, which saw wins against Bayern München, Freiburg and Mainz.

Bremen face a Union Berlin side without a win in eight matches across all competitions. However, Werner’s side have won just twice against Saturday’s visitors since Union’s promotion to the Bundesliga in 2019.

Team News

Bremen will be without several key players due to injury: Felix Agu (knee) and Leonardo Bittencourt (groin) are both expected to miss the match, along with the injured trio of Isak Hansen-Aaroen, Justin Njinmah, and Keke Topp, all of whom are dealing with ankle issues.

Jens Stage and Marvin Ducksch, who have scored six and four goals, respectively, are in strong form and will look to add to their tally on Saturday.

Union Berlin

The struggles for the visitors continued last time out as they were held to a 1-1 draw against a struggling Bochum side. Die Esernen head into this week’s clash against Werder Bremen looking for just their second away win of the season.

Alongside an away win against Holstein Kiel, the only victory on the road for Union in 2024 was back in February, overcoming Hoffenheim by a single goal to nil.

Recent away struggles saw the club fall to defeat by three goals to two at the hands of VfB Stuttgart, a result made even more disappointing when it is considered that Bo Svensson’s side held a 2-0 lead in the second half.

Whilst Union hold a fantastic record against Saturday’s opponents, Svensson and his side will have to call upon more than past results to end their ongoing winless streak.

Team News

Union will be without Kevin Vogt, who is suspended for one match after picking up his fifth yellow card against Bochum last week. Additionally, Andrej Ilic (muscle), Jerome Roussillon (leg), Woo-Yeong Jeong (head), and Yannic Stein (shoulder) are all sidelined due to injury.

Benedict Hollerbach will likely be called upon after netting just three goals this season. However, alongside Jeong and Tom Rothe, Hollerbach is one of the only players to find the back of the net more than once this campaign.