Pull together and show our quality as a team

Team news: Head coach Ole Werner will be without Niklas Stark, Justin Njinmah and Skelly Alvero on Friday evening. Anthony Jung will also miss the game as part of his red-card suspension. Amos Pieper could come into the squad to replace the defender, with Werner commenting that Pieper was “entirely an option.” Michael Zetterer has also recovered from a minor ankle injury and will travel to Frankfurt with the team, as will Dawid Kownacki.

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Ole Werner on the current situation: “The mood within the team is important, as you always look to pick the team up from wherever they are emotionally. It’s always something that you have to take into consideration. We’re able to take stock of the situation in a measured and self-critical manner, without being too negative. Over the course of the season, we have always been able to pull together and dig ourselves out of any tough situations by showing the quality we have as a team. As long as we remain focused on ourselves and do our job, then we will be able to turn things around again.”

Ole Werner on the opponent: “Eintracht Frankfurt have a very passionate fan base. They are a strong team and always manage to showcase their qualities on the pitch. It’s one reason why they’re in the running for a spot in a Europe next season. We’re heading there with the confidence that we have what it takes to win there.”

Recent meetings: The two sides have previously met on 105 occasions in the Bundesliga, with SVW narrowly ahead with 43 wins to Frankfurt’s 38. The remaining 24 fixtures have ended in a draw, as was the case the last time the two teams faced off earlier this season at the wohninvest WESERSTADION. Marvin Ducksch (45+2′) and Rafael Borré (50′) put the Green-Whites ahead, before goals from Ellyes Skhiri (65′) and Hrvoje Smolčić (75′) saw the Eagles come back to earn a point (2-2).

Stage set to return: Werder will be bolstered by the return of Jens Stage this weekend, after he was suspended last time out for picking up his fifth yellow card of the season. The Dane has covered 278.9 kilometres this term, the most of any player from either team involved in this fixture. Tuta has covered the most ground for the Eagles in 2023/24, although he has still run nearly 14 kilometres less than Stage.