X

Have feedback / suggestions? Let us know!

Soccer

Dortmund, Werder Bremen Enter Pivotal Stretch In Bundesliga Relegation Battle

By @DFresh39

Jurgen Klopp Dortmund Bundesliga

Getty Images

One of the biggest stories in the Bundesliga through the first 11 matches is that Borussia Dortmund sits one position out of the relegation zone. They have the same number of points as Werder Bremen, but lead by five in the goal differential column. Neither team should be in the bottom five after matchday 15 with both entering a pivotal four-game stretch. Both squads play teams in the bottom half of the table and should turn their fortunes around.

Dortmund has continued to play well in the Champions League, but have yet to find their stride in the domestic league. They have lost four of their last five games in Germany. They will have a chance to turn it around this weekend as they face a surprise Paderborn team. Dortmund won the game prior to the international break, and Marco Reus is fit to go as BVB visit Benteler Arena. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is said to be available as well, while Paderborn could be without their captain, Uwe Hunemeier.

If Dortmund get a result at Paderborn, it will build confidence and hopefully establish the consistency that has been missing all season for coach Jurgen Klopp. In the following three matches, they will face two other teams in the lower half of the table, Eintracht Frankfurt and Hertha Berlin. The biggest test in the next four will come on December 5 as they take on Hoffenheim.

However, it is the only game in the next four that will be held on home soil in front of the Yellow Wall. If things go poorly for Dortmund over the next four weeks, at least they have the Champions League, where they have already advanced onto the next stage.

Werder Bremen finds themselves in a similar situation. New coach Viktor Skripnik has ushered the team to three wins in his first three games at the helm. The last game out was their first clean sheet of the year. Skripnik, along with Torsten Frings, are a coaching staff of club legends that have reignited the team. However, they will be without top scorer Franco Di Santo for this weekend’s match against Hamburg, who are one point behind Werder Bremen.

The Green and White will also face Paderborn and Eintracht Frankfurt over the next four weeks. They will finish this stretch by hosting Hannover. Hannover have won three of their last five games, but have been outscored by three in that time frame.

It is a pivotal time in the season for Dortmund and Werder Bremen after dreadful starts for both. There are six matches before the winter break, so it is time to make a move. They will face each other in the last game before the break. If they do what they should in the next four matches, both teams should be able to leave the relegation zone behind.

Douglas Smith is a soccer writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DFresh39, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.

Related:

Bundesliga is Shining on Champions League Stage

Share Tweet
Trending Now on