Werder Bremen
Bremen are without a win in six Bundesliga games and lie in the bottom half of the table after finishing as runners-up to FC Bayern München last season. However, of late Bremen have been showing signs of their best football, and none more so than when they knocked Milan out of the UEFA Cup in the last round.
Bremen’s record against French clubs is not that good though, P11 W3 D3 L5. Their first meeting with a Ligue 1 side was a memorable one as it came in the 1991/92 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final, when they beat AS Monaco FC 2-0 in Lisbon.
St-Etienne
The UEFA Cup remains the bright spot in an otherwise rather dismal season for St-Etienne. ‘Les Verts’ find themselves down in 17th in Ligue 1 just three points and one place off the relegation places.
In contrary, St-Etienne are unbeaten in their last 12 European games since losing 4-0 at FC Bohemians Praha in the second leg of a 1982/83 UEFA Cup second-round tie on 3 November 1982. That run has comprised seven wins and five draws. Their six away games since that defeat in Prague have ended in four wins and two draws.
Team News
Thomas Schaaf has a few players returning from injury to boost his squad for Thursday’s UEFA Cup tie. Clemens Fritz and Christian Vander are poised to return following spells on the sidelines while Torsten Frings and Claudio Pizarro are also expected to be fit.
The main absentee for trainer Alain Perrin is Greek defender Stathis Tavlaridis, who is suspended. His place in the squad has gone to attacker Boubacar Mansaly. Bafetimbi Gomis (sprained ankle) and Ilan (pain in a leg) have made the trip to North Germany, but it remains unclear whether they will play. Loic Perrin (thigh), Christophe Landrin (adductor) and Sylvain Monsoreau (Achilles tendon) are still unavailable though.
My prediction: Werder Bremen -1
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