Werder Bremen vs Mainz prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2023-09-01 13:30.
He may have signed a new contract in June, but the pressure is already building on Werder Bremen boss Ole Werner after a horror start to the season. The manager, who guided the club to safety last season, has seen his side lose their opening three games across all competitions for the first time since 2016/17, including a shock 3-2 reversal against third-tier side FC Viktoria Köln in the DFB-Pokal.
The good news for Werner though is that new signing Naby Keïta has joined in training for the first time since arriving from Liverpool, and he could soon provide some much-needed thrust from midfield. His debut cannot come soon enough for the River Islanders, with their 1-0 defeat to Freiburg last time out meaning they are now on a run of just one victory in their last 14 top-flight outings (D3, L10).
Recent history suggests ending that run is unlikely against opponents Mainz, who have won four of the last six H2Hs (D1, L1), including each of their last three visits to Weserstadion without conceding. That record might provide a welcome confidence boost to the Carnival Club, who have registered just one point from their first two league matches (D1, L1), which arrived in a 1-1 draw with ten-man Frankfurt last time out.
Manager Bo Svensson described that as a “bitter result” for his side, while also admitting they were “punished” for their “mistakes” as they conceded a last-gasp equaliser. He will be hoping a week on the training ground has helped his players iron out the errors, as they look to end a five-match winless run on the road in the Bundesliga (D2, L3).
Players to watch: Werder Bremen will be keen for striker Niclas Füllkrug to get off the mark for the season, given he has won seven of the last 11 matches in which he has scored (D1, L3). Attempting to out-gun him might be Lee Jae-Sung, whose last eight goalscoring appearances for Mainz have seen him net first or last.
Hot stat: Mainz have not kept a clean sheet in their last ten Bundesliga games, conceding at least two goals on seven occasions.