Werder Bremen vs VfL Bochum preview: Will Bremen's winning run continue? | OneFootball

Werder Bremen

In an almost shocking turn of events, Werder Bremen are the most in-form team in the entire Bundesliga.

This run of form seemed impossible considering how they were playing before. They lost every single game they played in the month of February, which took place during a run of five straight defeats. Bremen was in free-fall.

Instead of thinking about Europe, the club was starting to get worried if they were actually safe from relegation.

It’s been a completely different Werder in recent weeks, though. Their run started with a 3-0 win away to Holstein Kiel, which wasn’t too shocking considering the latter’s position in the league table.

What was surprising were the next two results. The Green-Whites hosted 3rd place Eintracht Frankfurt, and they beat them too. It was an incredibly solid showing, and the team’s previously leaky defense didn’t give up many opportunities.

Then, to prove that it wasn't a fluke, Bremen went to VfB Stuttgart and secured a huge victory on the road. They went down on the afternoon, but Oli Burke equalized before the break, and he eventually scored the winner in the final few moments.

This stretch has faulted Werder back into the European picture. They go into this weekend in 9th place, but they’re only three points behind 6th. If supporters really want to start dreaming, they’re also just six points off the top four.

Looking at their upcoming fixtures, there’s a real opportunity to keep the good times rolling. They host 17th-place VfL Bochum and 15th-place St. Pauli before travelling to 13th-place Union Berlin. While each opponent can be tricky, Die Werderaner will fancy their chances of picking up nine more points.

If they play like they have been recently, then that’ll likely end up happening.

Team newsEven the injury report is on their side, with Milos Veljkovic likely to be the only absentee this weekend.

VfL Bochum

The story is the opposite for VfL Bochum.

Following a shock win away to Bayern Munich, they’ve lost their last four matches. In their defense it was a gauntlet of a schedule, as they faced the likes of Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen, Stuttgart, and Augsburg.

However, Die Blauen will be disappointed to not pick up a point somewhere along the line. They’re back in the bottom two following this drought, and they’re two points behind FC Heidenheim for a spot in the relegation-playoff. To make things even more problematic, they’re nine points behind St. Pauli in the battle for automatic safety.

Bochum knows they can turn it back around in a moment. They were only beaten last weekend by a goal in stoppage time. Forwards like Philipp Hofmann and January signing Giorgos Masouras can grab a goal or two on any given day, and if the defense puts together a strong performance, then they can beat anyone.

That backline will have to be better than they have been, though. They’ve conceded 61 goals this campaign, which is more than two-a-game and is the second-worst record in the Bundesliga. In their last four contests they’ve given up a remarkable 12 goals.

The club is in a tricky spot right now, but there’s a reason they’re nicknamed Die Unabsteigbaren after all.

Team newsBochum will be without both Ivan Ordets and Matus Bero due to suspension, while Koji Miyoshi and Tom Krauss will miss out because of injury.