SC Paderborn 07 vs Werder Bremen preview - Crucial clash ahead for Bremen

Posted Saturday, April 25, 2015 by PA

Werder Bremen can narrow the gap on the top six to just one point by beating Paderborn this Sunday, but their coach Viktor Skripnik has warned that it will not be easy.

With Schalke slipping up on Friday night, the northern Germany side still have every chance of qualifying for Europe for the first time in five years, but to succeed they must once again beat a side struggling near the foot of the table.

Only a late goal earned them all three points against bottom-placed Hamburg last Sunday and Skripnik expects Paderborn to be equally challenging.

"Everybody saw how Hamburg played against us," he said. "They stood very deep and waited for counter-attacks.

"Paderborn could be bottom by the time we play them and they are certainly going to play in the same manner.

"I'm expecting uncomfortable opponents and a game which once again is not going to be so enjoyable for my players, but in spite of that we desperately want to take three points from Paderborn."

Zlatko Junuzovic could be available despite only returning to training on Friday after missing the rest of the week with a dead leg.

Srdjan Lakic is Paderborn's main doubt with the former Kaiserslautern forward taking a knock to his calf in training.

"There's a big question mark over his inclusion," said Paderborn coach Andre Breitenreiter, who is expecting a different performance from his side to the one they showed in the reverse fixture, which they lost 4-0.

"We really didn't cope with them back then and we always had a man down in the middle.

"We've got to vary things a lot more this time and defend as a unit."

Only then do the East Westphalians have a chance of ending the weekend above the relegation zone.