Claudio Pizarro is in line to make his 450th Bundesliga appearance when Werder Bremen and Hertha Berlin put their unbeaten starts on the line on Tuesday evening (kick-off: 6:30pm CEST/5:30pm BST/12:30pm ET).
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Both of Werder’s wins this season have come away from home, including a thrilling 3-2 victory at Augsburg on Saturday that saw them throw away a two-goal lead before Davy Klaassen’s first Bundesliga goal ensured the three points went back north to Bremen. The Green-Whites are yet to win at home this season after a pair of 1-1 draws with Hannover and Nuremberg, but remain unbeaten at the Weser Stadium in 15 matches under Florian Kohfeldt. Pizarro started the win at Augsburg, which means the 39-year-old Peruvian will likely make his landmark appearance from the bench. Martin Harnik could be restored to the attack in his stead.
Hertha have made their best ever start to a Bundesliga campaign with three wins and a draw from four games and are currently defending champions Bayern Munich's closest pursuers. The Old Lady came from behind to beat Borussia Mönchengladbach in a barnstorming encounter on Saturday to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to five matches. That victory, though, was marred by the loss of midfielder Marko Grujic to an ankle injury, with the Liverpool loanee facing around three months out. Per Skjelbred is set to come in.
Watch: Claudio Pizarro - 20 years, 20 goals
Probable line-ups
Bremen: Pavlenka – Gebre Selassie, Veljkovic, Moisander, Augustinsson – M. Eggestein, Bargfrede, Klaassen, Kainz – Kruse (c), OsakoAbsentees: Caldirola (not considered), Johannsson (ankle), Kapino (thigh), Käuper (ankle)Coach: Florian Kohfeldt
Hertha: Jarstein – Klünter, Stark, Lustenberger, Plattenhardt – Maier, Skjelbred – Kalou, Duda, Dilrosun – Ibisevic (c)Absentees: Darida (knee), Grujic (ankle), Kurt (not considered), Rekik (adductor), Torunarigha (Achilles)Coach: Pal Dardai