Bundesliga club Werder Bremen will have to do without Leonardo Bittencourt in the home game against FSV Mainz 05.
The midfielder is ill and is not available for the game in the sold-out Weser Stadium on Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky). There is still a question mark over the use of Milos Veljkovic. The defense chief is struggling with a tendon irritation and therefore had to cut back on training.
As fifth in the table, Bremen are the clear favorites against Mainz in twelfth place. Nevertheless, Werder coach Ole Werner does not expect an easy task.
“Mainz plays very intense football. But the team also has space that needs to be exploited. You have to accept the aggressiveness and physicality,” said the Bremen coach, who doesn’t want to be influenced by the increased expectations.
“We look at ourselves and the things we do – regardless of the table. What is being discussed around us plays a subordinate role for us,” said Werner.