We continue with double-match previews with showdowns in which there are no clear favorites according to the Bundesliga table. The first matchup does feature foes that are a bit far in rankings as Schalke has six and Werder has only one point earned so far but the fact that the game will be played in Wedrer pretty much erases the difference. On the other side, there is only one point difference between Stuttgart and Wolfsburg as newcomers in the league have three and the Wolves have four points earned at the moment.
All of this should guarantee some interesting and high-quality soccer performances with a good foundation for successful predicting of outcomes. Let’s take a closer look.
SV Werder Bremen vs. Schalke 04
Three-Way: 1: SV Werder Bremen +179; X: +260 Draw; 2: Schalke 04 +179
Spread 0: SV Werder Bremen -101; Schalke 04 -102
Total +2.5: Over -114; Under +106
SV WERDER BREMEN
SV Werder Bremen along with Leverkusen and Koln is recording the worst season start in German Bundesliga at the moment. They have only one point earned that came from last week’s 1:1 road draw at Hertha Berlin. In two previous matchups against a bit stronger opponents, Hoffenheim and Bayern Munich, they couldn’t manage to score one goal while conceding three. All this was enough for No. 16 spot in the league table and after three rounds played, they find themselves under the relegation line. Their goal difference at the moment is 1-4.
In last Saturday matchup in Berlin coach Nouri started with the 3-5-2 scheme, with obvious intention to take over the supremacy in the middle of the field and he succeeded partially. Hertha’s M. Leckie scored an opener seven minutes before the break but the team from Bremen looked fresher in the second period that resulted with an equalizer by T. Delaney in the 59th minute of the match.
Justin Eilers (cruciate ligament) will be absent for a longer period as his expected return is set for early January next year. Zlatko Junuzovic (Achilles tendon) and Eric Oelschlagel (elbow) should be ready in a few weeks while Niklas Moisander (thigh) is expected to be out until at least next month.
SCHALKE 04
The Miners (nickname for Schalke 04 team) have entered the season in a solid way with two home wins and one road loss. It looks like they finally managed to gather the right players in order to be one of the contenders for European team competitions next year but they will have to transfer solid home performances on the road and a matchup against struggling Werder team could present a great starting point. Still, we have to be careful with the most unpredictable squad in German Bundesliga last year because I’m not 100% sure that they’ve given up the old habits.
In a win against Stuttgart on Saturday, the second half proved to be the decisive one as result stayed tied after the first period with one goal scored by both teams. Naldo and Burgstaller were the scorers after just two minutes of play to set the final score at 3:1 and secure sixth point earned for their team that gets them at No. 5 spot in the league table at the moment. Their goal difference is also very good (5-2).
Donis Avdijaj suffered an ankle injury one month ago and there is still no timetable for his return. Franco Di Santo (arm) and Luke Hemmerich (foot) are listed as day to day.
SV Werder Bremen vs. Schalke 04 – Match Prediction
In the first two weeks of the Bundesliga, Werder Bremen clashed with a bit stronger teams and last week they showed that they have enough juice to get some positive result on the road that should be transferred to teams’ mental state which will be crucial on Saturday. Although the home fans expect the first win of the season, I am going to pick the over and both teams to score because Schalke knows how to finds the way to complicate the things further, with scoring on the road.
My pick: Three-Way: Over 2.5 goals (-114)
Additional pick: Both teams score (-141)
VfB Stuttgart vs. VFL Wolfsburg
Three-Way: 1: VfB Stuttgart +156; X: +256 Draw; 2: VFL Wolfsburg +211
Spread 0: VfB Stuttgart -127; VFL Wolfsburg +125
Total +2.5: Over -104; Under +100
VfB STUTTGART
The Champion of Zweite (German Bundesliga second tier competition) and the newcomers in the top tier of German soccer Stuttgart team has one win and two defeats in first three rounds of the season that put them at No. 14 spot in the league table with three total points earned. Both losses came on the road (against Hertha 0:2, against Schalke 04 1:3) and the only victory came at home against FSV Mainz (1:0) If they want to stay in the league next year they must improve their road record and great foundation for building the confidence needed for that are good performances in front of their own crowd. Wolfsburg is certainly a bigger bite than Mainz having in mind both teams’ form at the moment but that can’t be an excuse.
Against Schalke, the 3-4-3 scheme proved to be a bit too offensively orientated, especially in the second half when the defense just couldn’t cope with a two-minute blitzkrieg that sent the home team to two goals advantage. The only goal scored for Stuttgart in this duel was the deed of striker Chadrac Akolo. Besides center-back Holger Badstuber, he’s the only player that got his name on the scoreboard so far.
Emiliano Insua (knee) should be back in early November while Carlos Mane (knee) should be ready in early October. Holger Badstuber (groin) is set to be back before the end of this month while Matthias Zimmermann’s (cruciate ligament) status is unknown. Daniel Ginczek (knee) and Anto Grgic (ankle) are listed as day to day.
VFL WOLFSBURG
The Wolves are having problems at home at the start of the season with one defeat (0:3 season opener against Dortmund) and one draw (1:1 against Hannover 96 last week). The only win came on the road against Eintracht Frankfurt and thanks to it they are currently ranked 12th in the Bundesliga table with four points earned and 2-4 goal difference. The matchup at Stuttgart comes as an excellent test of how the team will perform on the road this season and an answer to the question of victory in Frankfurt just being a fluke.
The first home win was on the horizon against The Green-whites from Hannover until 15 minutes before the end when Martin Harnik scored an equalizer to annul the home team’s advantage provided by Daniel Didavi in the 52nd minute of the match. The fans and the board have great expectations from this season and another disappointing year would probably inflict some serious changes in the team roster and management.
John Anthony Brooks (thigh) is expected to be out until mid-November while Mario Gomez (ankle) and Jeffrey Bruma (knee) should be available in a few weeks. Marcell Tisserand’s (thigh) status is unknown while Kaylen Hinds (cold), Adelino Vierinha (ankle) and Christian Trasch (unknown) are listed as day to day.
VfB Stuttgart vs. VFL Wolfsburg – Match Prediction.
The first thing that comes to mind here is a draw. Both teams are still figuring out how strong they are and I can’t see either of them emerging victorious on Saturday. I also think that the final result might be 0:0 or 1:1 and under 2.5 goals in total will be my additional pick.
My pick: Draw (+256)
Additional pick: Under 2.5 goals (+100)
