Werder Bremen vs Freiburg Predictions, Betting Tips, & Match Preview

Werder Bremen started their season with five consecutive competitive defeats (4 Bundesliga and 1 DFB Pokal), their worst ever start to a new campaign, before Alexander Nouri took over the reins as “interim coach”. Last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at RB Leipzig was always going to be a tricky fixture and Bremen should still be happy with the reasonable 7 points taken since he took the reins. Nouri has boldly handed starts to several players from the under-23’s, who have seemingly invigorated the deflated side. 21 year old Serge Gnabry is one such player. He scored Bremen’s only goal last weekend and has scored 3 goals in his last 5 appearances for club and country. He’s priced at 11/4 to score anytime and seems a decent shout given his current form.

Freiburg kept their perfect home record going with a 2-1 win at home to Augsburg last Saturday, extending their streak to nine consecutive home wins. Coach Christian Streich – the man who guided Freiburg to UEFA Europa League football in extraordinary fashion in 2013 –  will, however, no doubt be disappointed to see this run come to an end at one of the easier hurdles. Freiburg were only able to play out a deadlocked 3-3 draw against 2. Bundesliga side Sandhausen in their mid-week DFB Pokal 2nd round match, failing to progress through to the 3rd round after penalties.

Werder Bremen are the bookies’ favourites ahead of this match at 11/8. While we also fancy the host’s chances here, given Freiburg have lost all four on the road so far, we feel Bremen’s inconsistency makes this a “riskier” bet. Bremen’s style of football does, however, bring out some of the most entertaining results in the Bundesliga and, as such, we feel that backing goals here has to be the safer bet. Over 2.5 goals and both teams to score has landed in 18 of Bremen’s 25 (72%) Bundesliga matches in 2016, including all 7 of their most recent matches. Meanwhile, though Freiburg have struggled on the road, they have scored at least one in three of their four away matches so far – both teams to score and over 2.5 goals has landed in 3 of Freiburg’s 4 away matches (two 2-1 defeats and one 3-1 defeat).

Recent result trends indicate that a correct score of Werder Bremen to win 2-1 at 8/1 would also be a decent shout. Bremen’s two most recent wins have ended 2-1 and Freiburg have lost 2-1 in 2 of their 4 Bundesliga away matches (50%).