Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen are set to face off this Sunday afternoon at the Volkswagen Arena, in what has informally been labelled the “W Derby.” It’s a matchup that casual football fans often confuse, largely because both teams’ logos prominently feature the letter “W,” and they share similar green-and-white colour schemes—though Wolfsburg’s vibrant neon green contrasts with Bremen’s more muted shade.
Though not a heated rivalry in the traditional sense, Wolfsburg vs Werder Bremen has taken on added significance because of their position in the Bundesliga table. Wolfsburg are 12th, while Werder Bremen sit one spot above them in 11th, with only a point separating the two sides. Neither are facing relegation worries just yet, but both seem far from contending for European spots. However, as with many Bundesliga mid-table clashes, a win here could dramatically change the momentum for either side.
Recent Form: Wolfsburg vs Werder Bremen
Wolfsburg were victorious in their last game before the break, going on the road and defeating VfL Bochum 3-1. Two goals midway through the first half gave them a solid lead, and even though the opposition pulled one back, Jonas Wind converted the rebound of a missed penalty kick to seal the win and all three points.
The previous weeks saw two devastating late goals in matches against some of the Bundesliga’s best teams. Die Wölfe were up a goal and a man at home to VfB Stuttgart, but a 97th minute strike from Deniz Undav meant that the points were shared.
Wolfsburg couldn’t even get a point in the match before. They tried to hold on to a 3-3 draw away to champions Bayer Leverkusen, but like many times before, Xabi Alonso’s men managed to find a goal at the death when they needed it. Seven points from six contests isn’t a bad return, and if they can learn how to close out games, then the Wolves might be able to go on a run.
Bremen’s Rollercoaster Performances
Bremen’s last two matches, meanwhile, were ridiculously different. On Matchday 5, they travelled to Hoffenheim, and it seemed like it was going to be a nightmare day at the office. They went down 3-0 in the opening 12 minutes. Fortunately for them, they were handed a lifeline six minutes later, as defender Stanley N’Soki was sent off following a denial of a scoring opportunity.
Werder pounced on the break. They not only pulled off a comeback, they did it before the end of the first half, somehow going into the break level at 3-3. Jens Stage completed a hat-trick moments after the break, and his side held on to clinch an improbable victory.
They couldn’t follow that up with another similar result. They hosted Freiburg before the international break, and this was a much slower, more tactical affair. Neither side created many chances, and the lone goal of the contest came when Ritsu Doan’s effort deflected into the back of the net.
It wasn’t a bad performance from Bremen, but it was an underwhelming showing that supporters have gotten used to seeing a bit too often. They know they can be better, and they’ll have to be here.
Attacking Concerns: Werder Bremen’s Struggles
Marvin Ducksch has been quiet. A little too quiet. Die Werderaner’s enigmatic frontman has struggled this season. He only has one goal to his name, and that came from the penalty spot. He’s a frustrated figure, and fans have grown increasingly frustrated with him as well.
Justin Njinmah was supposed to be his strike partner, but he’s out for an extended period. Other options like Keke Topp and Marco Grüll have failed to step up in his absence. That led to manager Ole Werner making a change to the lineup.
A New Front Three: Werner’s Tactical Shift
Mitchell Weiser, who’s usually been utilised as a right wingback, has been turned into a right winger. Romano Schmid has also been pushed up to be the winger on the opposite side of the field. Those two flank Ducksch.
The experiment began last week. It did not work. The new Bremen front three were inefficient for long stretches, and they didn’t get much of the ball. They showed some glimpses of promise, and everyone’s technical ability allowed for some clever link up play, but it wasn’t nearly enough. The team ended the match with an xG of just 1.01.
There’s a good chance they’ll be turned to once again, and they’ll have to be a lot better. The two widemen have to drop deeper, as they’re not fast enough to get in behind to be a threat that way. They are too focused on intricate passing, and they’ll need a plan B that allows them to be more direct when the cute stuff isn’t working well.
Ducksch needs to not be complacent and manage the early minutes if things aren’t going well. If he loses his head, things will only get worse. Focus on being a striker. Get in the right spots and finish whatever chances come his way. A few goals here from any of the front three could be the spark Werder needs to really kick on this campaign.
Jonas Wind: Wolfsburg’s Key Man in Attack
Someone who’s not struggled for goals recently is Jonas Wind, one of Wolfsburg’s attacking men. After being kept off the field entirely against Bayer Leverkusen, the Dane found the back of the net versus Stuttgart and followed that up with a two-goal showing against Bochum.
His first strike was a classic bit of center-forward play. He found space in the box, made himself available for a pass, and then buried a first-time strike into the sidenetting. Wind’s next goal was more of the same, hanging around the back post and redirecting a cross past the goalkeeper from close range. The final of the three may have been a rebound following a saved penalty kick, but they all count the same.
A forward like him could prove to be especially dangerous against Bremen. While their three-centerback setup prioritises having people back, they tend to leave bits of space in the penalty area. They’re susceptible to losing focus or losing control of situations.
That’s exactly when Wind would pounce. He knows where to be and when to be there. He knows how to lose his marker, and he can convert whatever chances come his way. The frontman even has some size to him, standing at an impressive 6’3”, which makes him a presence in the air.
Can he keep up his goalscoring run? Only time will tell, but the odds are in his favour.
Last time out
If this match ends up being like either of the fixtures between the two sides last season, then this could be a fun one. Wolfsburg hosted the first matchup, and they went down early after a stunning free-kick from Marvin Ducksch. They responded well, equalising through Václav Černý in the first half before taking the lead themselves following a tap-in from Kevin Paredes.
Another stunning goal from Bremen tied things up. Mitchell Weiser received the ball out wide, and he whipped in a perfect ball right to Rafael Santos Borré, who lept up and powered a header into the back of the net. That proved to be the end of the scoring on the afternoon.
The reverse fixture was as eventful, even if there weren’t as many goals. Werder had a centerback sent off at the very end of the half, as Anthony Jung brought down an opponent as the last man. While Wolfsburg didn’t score from that set-piece, Maxence Lacroix eventually rifled home a corner that had bounced around in the box shortly after.
Lacroix went from hero to zero with 15 minutes to go, as he was then sent off for the same sort of challenge as Jung. Die Wölfe weren’t punished, though, and a counter attacking move finished off by Lovro Majer late on sealed the victory.
When and how to watch
The match kicks off at 16:00 local time in Germany and 15:00 in the UK on Sunday, 22nd October. For UK viewers, the game will be available to stream live on Sky Sports Football via the Sky Go app. Fans in the United States can catch the action on ESPN+, with kick-off at 9:30 am Eastern Time. German viewers can tune in through DAZN and Sky Sport Bundesliga.
Match prediction
This contest is tough to call, as both Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen have shown flashes of quality alongside inconsistent performances. Wolfsburg’s home advantage and Jonas Wind’s form could give them an edge, but Bremen have proved resilient, especially with their dramatic comebacks in recent weeks.
Given that both sides are fairly evenly matched in terms of current form and league position, a draw seems the most likely outcome. Expect a tight, tactical battle, with both teams likely to cancel each other out.