Champions league: Werder Bremen vs. Real Madrid

Real Madrid arrived in Germany and for once the players weren’t the center of attention. All the media were following coach Bernd Schuster, who is one of the most famous, or infamous, figures in German football.

Madrid need a point to qualify to the next round, and I am pretty certain a point is all they are going to get from this match. Their away form in this year’s competition hasn’t been that impressive, with a two-two draw at Lazio which they should have won easily, and another draw, this time goalless, in Greece against Olympiacos.

Werder Bremen will also find hope in Madrid’s historically dismal away record in Germany. The Spanish side have played in the country twenty one times but have only won once, losing fourteen others. Added to this, The Spanish giants can only boast one away win in the Champions League from the last eight tries.

Bremen meanwhile, are bottom of Group C with three points and need something of a miracle to pass the group stage. Beating Madrid at their stadium would be a good start, but they will have to hope the other game between Lazio and Olympiacos ends in a draw. This is in sharp contrast to their domestic form, where they are second in the Bundesliga and just one point behind leaders Bayern, who aren’t even qualified for the Champions League this year.

The first game between Real and Bremen earlier this year at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium ended in a narrow win for the home side, where Bremen put in an impressive display and were unlucky to go home empty handed.

Real Madrid will be without Argentinean defender Heinze, who is out with a knee injury, as well as Sneijder, Drenthe, and Soldado. As for Bremen, their attack force will be dealt a huge blow by the suspension of their Brazilian star Diego, who received a red card in the last Champions League game against Lazio.

I don’t think Real Madrid will be able to pull off a win here as Bremen at home are extremely strong, but I can’t see the host side picking up the three points they so desperately need, either. A draw then, I think will be the most probable result. Good for Madrid, who face Lazio at home in the last match, but bad for Lazio, who will have to say goodbye to the Champions League again this year.

Prediction: Draw (1-1)