Werder Bremen host Augsburg in the Bundesliga on Friday.

The hosts have performed above expectations upon their return to Germany's top flight, while the visitors currently occupy the relegation playoff spot in the table.

Match preview

Indeed, after bouncing back at the first attempt from Bundesliga. 2 last season, Bremen were expected to struggle having suffered their first relegation for 41 years two seasons ago.

That could still prove to be the case, of course, but it does not seem likely having gained eight points from their first five matches.

Ole Werner's side are proving the masters of scoring late goals, with seven goals in the last five minutes across their last four matches providing an additional six points to their overall tally already.

Whether that proves sustainable remains to be seen, but it is indicative of their never-say-die attitude and a growing belief within the camp. Moreover, in Niclas Fullkrug they have a striker who was born to score goals, with the 29-year-old's late brace away to VfL Bochum last weekend making it five goals in five for him while providing another crucial win for his side.

With his key striker in red hot form, Werner will feel confident of moving up to fifth in the table by beating Augsburg on Friday.

Having lost four of his first five league games in charge of Augsburg, Enrico Maassen is under immense pressure to quickly stop the rot which is setting in at the club.

Fuggerstadter were toothless once again at home against Hertha Berlin last time out, with their paltry effort of one shot on target the fourth time in five matches that they have tested the opposition goalkeeper two or fewer times.

As such, once Dodi Lukebakio stooped to head the ball past Rafal Gikiewicz three minutes before the hour mark, the visitors' victory never looked in doubt. David Selke raced away in injury-time before unselfishly squaring the ball for Marco Richter, who scored his first goal since returning from testicular cancer.

Maassen could seriously do with a forward of Richter's quality back at the club right now, but he will have to work with the tools that he has at his disposal and make Augsburg a much more effective offensive unit, otherwise the former Borussia Dortmund II boss could find himself on the chopping block in the near future, with Friday's trip to free-scoring Bremen representing a tricky proposal.

Team News

Bremen could name an unchanged XI from the side which started in Bochum last time out, especially as they have a few injury concerns at present.

Jean Manuel Mbom, Dikeni Salifou and Eren Dinkci are all ruled out, while Lee Buchanan, Leonardo Bittencourt and Jens Stage are all doubts, but could be named on the bench depending on their recoveries.

Oliver Burke will likely be used from the bench late on once again, having won his side's penalty against Bochum in yet another decisive cameo.

Augsburg, meanwhile, only named eight of a possible nine substitutes against Hertha, as injuries continue to plague them.

Reece Oxford, Noah Sarenren Bazee, Tobias Strobl, Felix Uduokhai, Niklas Dorsch and Frederik Winther will definitely not make the trip to Bremen, while Iago, Fredrik Jensen and Arne Maier are all doubts.

Julian Baumgartlinger would likely replace Maier in midfield should his ankle issue rule him out from starting, while Ruben Vargas could replace Elvis Rexhbecaj as Maassen desperately seeks to add more goals to his side.

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

Augsburg possible starting lineup:
Gikiewicz; Bauer, Gouweleeuw, Gumny; Caligiuri, Baumgartlinger, Gruezo, Pedersen; Vargas, Demirovic, Berisha

We say: Werder Bremen 2-1 Augsburg

Werder Bremen have scored two or more goals in each of their five Bundesliga matches this season, and we do not envisage that run ending on Friday night.

Augbsurg could find their attacking opponents more accommodating and score themselves, but we expect a second successive Bremen victory.

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