Werder Bremen will be aiming to return to winning ways when they host RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
The visitors, meanwhile, have won three successive league matches and would end this period prior to the World Cup in the top four should they extend that streak.
Match preview
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After winning two matches in a row ahead of their trip to Munich to face the reigning champions Bayern on Tuesday, Bremen could treat the encounter as something of a free hit having performed significantly above expectations so far this season.
Ultimately, they were thrashed 6-1 at the Allianz Arena as the Bavarians extended their lead at the top of the table, although Ole Werner's side held onto seventh spot ahead of the weekend's action.
Anthony Jung equalised in the 10th minute after Jamal Musiala's early strike had broken the deadlock, but Julian Nagelsmann's side ran riot from that point onwards, with Serge Gnabry helping himself to a hat-trick.
With Borussia Dortmund four points ahead of Bremen in sixth place prior to their trip to Borussia Monchengladbach on Friday, Die Werderaner cannot end this period any higher than their current position, but a point against Leipzig on Saturday would ensure that they remain in the top half of the table heading into the New Year.
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Avoiding defeat against Die Roten Bullen is a difficult task for any team given their recent form, though, with Marco Rose's side unbeaten in all 12 of their matches in all competitions since returning from September's international break.
As such, the former Dortmund boss must be ruing the timing of the imminent World Cup break, having witnessed his team rack up a fifth consecutive victory against Freiburg on Wednesday.
Christian Streich's side - who arrived at the Red Bull Arena in second place in the table - were second best throughout, with Lukas Kubler's goal in the 66th minute one of only three shots that they managed to generate throughout the encounter.
Ultimately, Leipzig's victory never looked in doubt after Christopher Nkunku doubled his side's lead two minutes after Mohamed Simakan's 54th-minute opener, with Emil Forsberg's late penalty wrapping things up.
With Freiburg facing second-placed Union Berlin on Sunday, Leipzig will be guaranteed a spot in the top four heading into the New Year if they can beat Bremen on Saturday, as their superior goal difference would take them above both sides should the result be a draw at Stade Europa-Park.
Team News
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Bremen were without their top goalscorer Niclas Fullkrug against Bayern due to a knock, and the 29-year-old is unlikely to be risked this weekend having earned his first call-up to Germany's national team for the World Cup in Qatar, with Oliver Burke waiting in the wings to deputise once more.
Milos Veljkovic is also doubtful having been withdrawn at half-time in Munich due to an Achilles tendon issue, with Niklas Stark likely to fill in for him at centre-back, while Dudu, Felix Agu and Jean-Manuel Mbom have all been ruled out.
Leipzig, meanwhile, will remain without Peter Gulasci, Konrad Laimer and Timo Werner, whose ankle injury perhaps freed up a space for Fullkrug in Germany's squad having been ruled out until the New Year.
Josko Gvardiol and Abdou Diallo have also both been ruled out of making the trip to Bremen due to head and knee injuries respectively, with Marcel Halstenberg likely to tuck inside to centre-back and David Raum coming into the visitors' starting XI at left-back.
Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:
Pavlenka; Pieper, Stark, Friedl; Weiser, Gross, Bittencourt, Gruev, Jung; Burke, Ducksch
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Blaswich; Simakan, Orban, Halstenberg, Raum; Szoboszlai, Schlager, Haidara, Forsberg; Silva, Nkunku
We say: Werder Bremen 1-2 RB Leipzig
The potential absence of Fullkrug through injury is undoubtedly a huge blow to Bremen, with his partnership with Marvin Ducksch in attack undoubtedly the main factor for their side's surprisingly superb form this season.
As such, we can envisage Leipzig edging a fourth consecutive league win to ensure that they head into the World Cup break occupying a Champions League qualification spot.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Brett Curtis
