Defend top spot! The Bremen match preview

As the new league leaders, FC Bayern have wind in their sails going into their final home game of the year against SV Werder Bremen on Tuesday night (live text and free Web Radio from 20:30 CET on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app). Matchday 14 of this Bundesliga season is being dedicated to thanking volunteers, a campaign that Bayern will of course also be taking part in. As usual, our preview has all the information you need on the game.

Check out the photos from the final training session on Monday:

The situation for FC Bayern

With eight wins from their last eight matches in all competitions, Bayern are ending the year in unstoppable form, and that’s also seen them return to the summit of the Bundesliga for the first time since Matchday 4. “The recent games give us confidence,” said Julian Nagelsmann, calling on his side to continue that run in the remaining two outings of 2022 against Bremen and Schalke (Saturday 12 November, 18:30 CET). “We’re in first place now. If we get six points now then we’ll stay there over the winter break.” After a hectic few weeks and a heavy workload due to a packed fixture schedule, the 35-year-old doesn’t just see advantages to the upcoming break for the World Cup in Qatar. “In terms of results, the break isn’t coming at a good time. We’re in good form. There are certainly a lot of matches at the moment, though,” added the FCB boss.

Watch Julian Nagelsmann’s press conference in full:

The opponents: Werder Bremen

With 21 points from 13 matches, it’s been a trouble-free first season back in the Bundesliga so far for Werder Bremen, who are even knocking at the door of the European places. The last promoted team to have a better points tally at this stage were RB Leipzig six years ago, so Ole Werner’s side are travelling to Munich in confident mood. “We know that Bayern are Bayern and are incredibly strong, particularly at home. But I and the rest of the team are really up for the match,” stated defender Marco Friedl, who came through the youth ranks at FCB and made two first-team appearances in the 2017/18 campaign. “I’m really looking forward to it and I’m fired up to play against my former club. If we give our all again, we can get a result there too.”

The team news for FC Bayern vs. Bremen

As well as Alphonso Davies, who suffered a muscle strain against Hertha on Saturday, Bayern are still without long-term absentee Bouna Sarr (knee surgery). Josip Stanišić (tonsilitis), Thomas Müller and Matthijs de Ligt (both knocks) are not yet ready to return either. Dayot Upamecano is also somewhat groggy “after a lot of intense matches”, according to Nagelsmann, but should be fit enough to face Bremen.

Bremen must deal with the absence of top scorer Niclas Füllkrug (10 goals) in Munich. “His back is still giving him problems,” revealed coach Werner. Jean-Manuel Mbom, Felix Agu and Eduardo Dos Santo Haesler are also out.

What the coaches say

Julian Nagelsmann: “Bremen have a very good coach in Ole Werner, with clear sequences in defence and attack as well as a lot of aggression. They play a high press, a lot of man-to-man marking, and defend high for the full 90 minutes. That physical power and aggression they have has deservedly resulted in 21 points. With that they’re pretty high up for a promoted team. They’re tough opponents who will challenge us.”

Ole Werner (Werder Bremen): “On paper, Munich is the hardest away game. You need to do your jobs and produce your best possible performance. We’ll try to do that with the players who we have at our disposal.”

Top fact

Tuesday night Bundesliga? That’s a little unusual for Bayern, but not a bad omen. The German record champions have lost just one of their last 25 league games on a Tuesday (W18 D6), a 1-0 reverse at Hoffenheim in April 2017, when Julian Nagelsmann was in the opposition dugout. Bremen, in contrast, have collected just one point from their last five Bundesliga outings on a Tuesday.

More facts on the match: