Northern bragging rights will be on the line from the start when Werder Bremen host Hannover on Saturday (kick-off 03:30 PM CEST/ 01:30 PM GMT/ 09:30 AM EST).
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Bremen enjoyed a thumping 6-1 win at lower league Wormatia Worms in the DFB Cup first round last weekend, so Max Kruse will be out to continue his successful start to life as the Green-Whites captain. The Germany striker scored a hat-trick against Hannover last November, and this weekend he should be ably supported by recent arrivals Davy Klaassen and Yuya Osako. However, another new signing – Austrian forward Martin Harnik – will miss this meeting with the club he left over the summer due to injury.
Hannover, who finished two places below Bremen in 13th last term, had a 6-0 win over Karlsruher in the DFB Cup last time out. American forward Bobby Wood made his debut in that game, but he is suspended for this one after being sent off on the last day of the previous camapaign while playing for relegated Hamburg. However, Wood’s former HSV teammate Walace and Japanese pair Genki Haraguchi and Takuma Asano are all set for their league debuts for Hannover. Freescoring frontman Niclas Füllkrug will be the go-to man for the visitors once again.
Probable line-ups
Bremen: Pavlenka – Gebre Selassie, Veljkovic, Moisander, Augustinsson – M. Eggestein, Bargfrede, Klaassen – Osako, Kruse (c), KainzAbsentees: Harnik (hamstring), Johansson (ankle), Kapino (thigh), Bartels (Achilles), Zetterer (wrist), Käauper (foot) Coach: Florian Kohfeldt
Hannover: Esser – Sorg, Anton (c), Wimmer, Ostrzolek – Bebou, Schwegler, Walace, Haraguchi – Asano, FüllkrugAbsentees: Wood (suspended), Hübers (cruciate ligament), Prib (cruciate ligament) Coach: André Breitenreiter
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