Werder Bremen will have the chance to move second in the Bundesliga by beating Mainz 05 on Saturday.

The visitors, meanwhile, need a victory to move into the top half of the table.

Match preview

Surely not even the most ardent of Die Werderaner fans could have dreamed of seeing their side flying high towards the top of the Bundesliga following their instant return from Bundesliga 2 last season, with Ole Werner's side taking 15 points from nine matches to sit in fifth position ahead of the weekend's action.

With the top four sides all playing each other in what is being billed as Bundesliga's 'Super Sunday,' Bremen have an almost unthinkable opportunity to move into second place overnight if they can beat Mainz on Saturday.

Only reigning champions Bayern Munich have scored more goals than Bremen's impressive tally of 20 so far this season, with strike partners Marvin Ducksch and Niclas Fullkrug both on the scoresheet yet again to help their side to a 2-1 victory away to Hoffenheim last Friday.

After a lengthy VAR review, Fullkrug's 87th-minute penalty snatched all three points for the visitors, and it was Werner's side's ninth goal scored in the last 10 minutes of matches already this season. These goals have provided them with an additional nine points in total, illustrating the value of a strong mentality and high fitness levels.

However, they may need to show a little more control if they are to sustain their incredible run of form, and Werner will be hoping to see that from his players at Weserstadion on Saturday.

Mainz, meanwhile, have won only one of their last six matches, in what must be one of their poorest runs of form since their former player Bo Svensson became manager in January 2021.

However, Die Nullfunfer were close to recording an upset against RB Leipzig at the MEWA Arena last weekend, with Marcus Ingvartsen's strike on the cusp of half time looking like giving the hosts all three points.

Christopher Nkunku had other ideas, though, by equalising with only 10 minutes of normal time remaining to ensure that his side did not return to Leipzig empty-handed. In truth, a share of the spoils was probably a fair outcome to decide a game lacking in quality.

Svensson will desperately be hoping to see his side's winless run of four games come to an end sooner rather than later, but he will be under no illusions regarding the difficulty of the task in front of his players in Bremen at the weekend.

Team News

Barring any late injury developments, Werner is unlikely to make any changes to the starting XI that has beaten Borussia Monchengladbach and Hoffenheim in their last two matches.

Jean-Manuel Mbom, Dikeni Salifou, Nicolai Rapp and Eren Dinkci are all expected to remain sidelined with injury, while Leonardo Bittencourt is still working his way back to full fitness from the substitutes' bench.

Mainz, meanwhile, are sweating on the availability of Jonathan Burkardt and Silvan Widmer, who have been suffering with illness and a knock respectively in the past week.

Burkardt missed last weekend's draw with Leipzig, while Widmer was replaced by Danny Da Costa at half time, and Svensson may not see the need to take any risks from the start with two of his key players.

Stefan Bell should return to the centre of defence in place of Edmilson Fernandes, who started out of position against Leipzig, while Leandro Barreiro could return to the engine room to provide more presence in there.

Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:
Pavlenka; Stark, Veljkovic, Friedl; Weiser, Schmid, Gross, Gruev, Jung; Fullkrug, Ducksch

Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:
Zentner; Bell, Hack, Caci; Da Costa, Barreiro, Kohr, Aaron; Lee, Ingvartsen; Onisiwo

We say: Werder Bremen 2-1 Mainz 05

Bremen seem like a much more settled unit than Mainz, who may be struggling with the unavailability of a few key players.

In the shape of their front two, the hosts have more firepower than the majority of teams in the division on current form, and we can see them ending Saturday in second position by gaining a win.

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