Record against Werder: Little between the two sides
Overall: 116 games – 40 wins, 35 draws, 41 defeats. 175:195 goal difference.
In the Bundesliga: 112 games – 39 wins, 35 draws, 38 defeats. 173:189 goal difference.
We meet again: A striker with links to the North
Deniz Undav grew up near to Bremen and played in Werder’s youth academy between 2007 and 2012.
Tough to beat: Top tacklers go toe-to-toe
Stuttgart’s Jeff Chabot and Werder Bremen’s Amos Pieper are the leaders when it comes to winning duels this Bundesliga season so far (minimum 50 one-on-ones), and the two defenders could face one another on Sunday. Chabot has won 72 per cent of his duels, Pieper 71 per cent of his.
Putting faith in youth: VfB and Werder two of youngest teams
Werder Bremen’s starting XI has had an average age of 25 years and 44 days this season – the youngest in the Bundesliga. VfB meanwhile are third in that particular category, with an average age of 25 years and 136 days, with Eintracht Frankfurt (25 years and 103 days) in between the two. The only time that Werder have had a younger average age in a Bundesliga season came in 2012/13 (24 years and 245 days).
What the coaches said: “Combine intensity with enjoyment”
Sebastian Hoeneß: “For Sunday’s match against Werder Bremen, we want the team to come out and be decisive, and combine intensity with enjoyment. That should give us a positive result and put us in a decent position. Playing at the Weserstadion always poses a particular challenge, and Bremen are also unbeaten at home in their last four.”
Werder Bremen head coach Horst Steffen: “We’ll be looking to set the tone up front more than we have been doing recently and see whether we can pick up a win and close the gap on VfB. That’s the aim.”
Attendance: Big crowd despite late kick-off
VfB will have a travelling contingent of 4,150 fans heading north to cheer them on. No more away tickets will be available in Bremen for the match.