Bundesliga champions and European giants, Bayern Munich, travel to Weser-stadion fully expecting to go back to Munich with all 3 points. Werder Bremen will be hoping to get their season back on track with a big statement of intent against Bayern. Bayern Munich find themselves top of the table, as would be expected, with a 3-point gap between them and surprise package, RB Leipzig after 17 games. Werder Bremen head into round 18 of the Bundesliga in 15^th, a position that they won’t be happy to be sitting in.

STATS

• In their 17 games so far in the league this season, Bayern Munich have only tasted defeat one occasion, which came away at Borussia Dortmund back in November. As their only defeat in the league came on the road, Werder Bremen fans will be hopeful that they can become the 2nd  team to beat them this season.
• Werder Bremen have had contrasting fortunes this season and have only managed to pick up 4 wins in 17 games, a record which has seen them slip further and further down the table. However, of these 4 wins, 3 of them have come at home which will bring them a little bit of hope.
• Robert Lewandowski has been Bayern Munich’s main source of goals so far this season with 14 goals, only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored more. The Polish striker is averaging a goal in every 105 minutes of league action.
• Arsenal loanee, Serge Gnabry, is Werder Bremen’s highest league goal scorer this season with 7  goals from the wing. However, he’s the only Werder player to have hit the back of the net more than 5 times, an alarming stat for their strikers.

HEAD TO HEAD

The two sides met on the first day of the season at the Allianz Arena and Bayern Munich ran out emphatic 6-0 winners, the largest win margin in the Bundesliga so far this season. The last time Werder Bremen beat Bayern Munich in the league was in 2008 where they won 5-2 at the Allianz. They have failed to win the 17 league games between the two since, drawing 3.

Head to head matches: Werder Bremen - Bayern Munich

26.08.2016

Bund

Bayern Munich

Werder Bremen

6:0

WERDER BREMEN NEWS

Werder Bremen’s form in the last few games has been vastly improved, winning 1 of their last 4 games and drawing 2. Although they were beaten last time out against Dortmund, it was a promising performance and has given their fans something to get excited about. Werder Bremen’s main loss is Serge Gnabry, their top scorer in the league this season and he’s joined on the injury table by Hajrovic, Junuzovic, Bargfrede, Caldirola, Johannsson and Grillitsch, a very long list of absences. Jaroslav Drobny and Fin Bartels are both suspended whilst Sambou Yatabare is at the African Cup of Nations with Mali.

Latest matches in Bundesliga: Werder Bremen

21.01.2017	Bund	Werder Bremen	Borussia Dortmund	1:2	L
21.12.2016	Bund	1899 Hoffenheim	Werder Bremen	1:1	D
17.12.2016	Bund	Werder Bremen	1 FC Cologne	1:1	D
10.12.2016	Bund	Hertha BSC	Werder Bremen	0:1	W

BAYERN MUNICH NEWS

After 6 consecutive league wins, Bayern Munich aren’t expected to change their team very much. Although a slightly unconvincing 2-1 win against Freiburg last time out might force Carlo Ancelotti to make a few changes. He only has 3 unavailable players but Jerome Boateng (shoulder), Arturo Vidal (Hamstring) and Thiago (ribs) will all be big absences for Bayern and with Vidal and Thiago, the midfield is quite thin on the ground.

Latest matches in Bundesliga: Bayern Munich

20.01.2017	Bund	SC Freiburg	Bayern Munich	1:2	W
21.12.2016	Bund	Bayern Munich	RB Leipzig	3:0	W
18.12.2016	Bund	SV Darmstadt 98	Bayern Munich	0:1	W
10.12.2016	Bund	Bayern Munich	VfL Wolfsburg	5:0	W
02.12.2016	Bund	1 FSV Mainz 05	Bayern Munich	1:3	W
26.11.2016	Bund	Bayern Munich	Bayer Leverkusen	2:1	W

SUMMING UP!

Bayern Munich are certainly favourites heading into this fixture but Werder Bremen will have a slight chance against the league leaders due to home advantage. They have a chance to get their first win over Bayern Munich in 17 years but the visitors shouldn’t give them much of a chance of victory. The threat of Robert Lewandowski will have to be silenced if Werder Bremen want any chance of winning this one.