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If they don't win, managers will get sacked

In the last nine head-to-heads, each time there were at least three recorded goals

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After a surprising win against Hoffenheim in the last round, Wolfsburg were smoothly defeated in an away game against Borussia Dortmund. It was the fourth defeat of Ismael's team in the last five official matches, but this time Wolfsburg didn't have any chance to get away with a positive result. At the very start of the game Bruma shook the net of his own goalkeeper Benaglio, and at the start of the second half, Borussia confirmed the win with two more goals. Ismael is now expected to beat Werder, and judging by tradition, we can expect a great game with a lot of goals. Last season Werder were pulverized in Wolfsburg with six goals, and in the last nine head-to-heads, at least three goals were recorded.

Ismael won titles with Werder 13 years ago, and now he has to go after three points against his former team:

- At the time we had very good relations, we played great soccer, the stadium was full, and we were successful in winning the titles. Werder werre the top of my player career. The love I received in Bremen is something I will never forget. Our current situation is not ideal, so I have to forget the feelings I have for Werder for 90 minutes, until the game ends. We have to win. The team have two faces, and today we have to show our good face. We have to trust our own capabilities, and we need to play with heart.

It's questionable whether Ismael will use the 4-2-3-1 or the 4-5-1 formation, but in any case, playmaker Malli will start the game behind goalgetter Mario Gomez. Due to injury struggles, the hosts won't have midfielders Azzaoui and Dejagah available, as well as the young forward Osimhen. It's questionable whether Didavi will get a chance in the midfield from the first minute, or will Ismael keep Seguin.

Werder started the new year with four defeats in a row, so there was a lot of talk about sacking manager Nouri. He wasn't lucky in those games because his team always got praise for leaving a good impression, but on the other hand, the results are the final judgement about the manager's work. Werder came to the most endangered zone of Bundesliga's table. In the last round, Nouri's team recorded a valuable away win against Mainz, so the sacking didn't happen. In the early phase of the match Delane and Gnarby achieved big advantage for the away team, and Nouri can be happy that his defense finally managed to keep their goal intact.

Nouri is aware that his team have to look for points in Wolfsburg, despite arriving weakened:

- Delaney won't manage to recover until the start of the match, but we have good alternatives in the midfield. Eggstein already played, and I'm also counting on Veljkovic. I didn't find a way to influence the past, that's why we're focused on the present. There's no point in you asking me about my status in the club because I'm not the one deciding about it. What matters is Werder. For us it's important to get out there with the right spirit.

The away team will miss the suspended midfielder Fritz, and due to injury struggles Nouri won't be able to count on the experienced goalkeeper Drobny, and midfielders Delaney, Grillitsch and Hajrovic. It is expected for Werder to play in the 4-2-2 formation with Kruse and Gnarby at the top of the offense from the first minute, and the experienced goalgetter Pizarro should be Nouri's ace from the bench.