Bundesliga side Werder Bremen will hope to avoid an upset in the DFB-Pokal quarter-final on Tuesday when they travel to SchucoArena where they take on third tier side Arminia Bielefeld.
The hosts defeated Bundesliga club Freiburg 3-1 in the previous round on December 3, whereas the Green-Whites overcame Darmstadt 1-0 on the same date, though they needed a 94th-minute winner to avoid extra time.
Match preview
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Despite Arminia Bielefeld riding their luck at times against Freiburg given they faced over two xG, they also posed a significant attacking threat themselves, producing 17 shots totalling exactly two xG.
It should be noted that the home side also beat Bundesliga club Union Berlin in the DFB-Pokal, emerging as 2-0 winners on October 30, and they have in fact only conceded one goal in their three outings in the tournament this term.
Die Blauen are currently fourth in the 3. Liga table with 40 points, four points and one place from the division's promotion playoff spot.
Boss Michel Kniat may be frustrated by his side's form as while they won their past two games, they have lost three of their last six in all competitions.
Though Arminia Bielefeld have been defeated in two of their three most recent outings at home, they were unbeaten in their prior nine at SchucoArena, winning seven and drawing two.
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Opponents Werder Bremen restricted Darmstadt to just one shot inside the penalty area but only created one big chance in the entire game against their 2. Bundesliga opponents.
The visitors also only beat 2. Bundesliga club Paderborn 1-0 in the second round of the DFB-Pokal, with their last three eliminations coming against teams from lower divisions.
Ole Werner's team succumbed to a 5-0 defeat against Freiburg on February 21 in the league, and the loss meant they ended the weekend in 12th place with 30 points after 23 matchweeks.
The Green-Whites have lost three consecutive games by a cumulative score of 11-1, and they have lost five, drawn two and won just one of their last eight fixtures.
Werder Bremen's form away from home is also poor given they are winless in their four most recent matches on the road, losing three times in that period.
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Team News
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Arminia Bielefeld could name a similar starting XI to the side that beat Freiburg, so perhaps centre-backs Leon Schneider, Stefano Russo and Maximilian Grosser will continue in defence.
Sam Schreck may be trusted at the base of a midfield three, while strikers Lukas Kunze and Julian Kania are likely to start up front.
Werder Bremen will want to bounce back from their humiliating defeat against Freiburg, and that could mean Werner will select a strong XI featuring the likes of Senne Lynen, Romano Schmid and Leonardo Bittencourt in midfield.
However, centre-backs Marco Friedl and Milos Veljkovic are injured, and that makes Amos Pieper, Niklas Stark and Anthony Jung the most probable candidates to feature in a back three.
In the forward line, striker Keke Topp will not be available, and that will almost certainly mean that Andre Silva will start in attack.
Arminia Bielefeld possible starting lineup:
Kersken; Schneider, Russo, Grosser; Lannert, Worl, Schreck, Corboz, Oppie; Kunze, Kania
Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:
Zetterer; Pieper, Stark, Jung; Weiser, Lynen, Bittencourt, Schmid, Kohn; Ducksch, Silva
We say: Arminia Bielefeld 1-0 Werder Bremen
Werder Bremen have been porous at the back in recent weeks, and it would be surprising if they kept a clean sheet.
Arminia Bielefeld have already beaten two Bundesliga clubs in the DFB-Pokal this season, and they will be confident they can take advantage of the struggling visitors.
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Lewis Nolan
