On Wednesday Werder Bremen plays Sampdoria Genua in the first leg of the
Champions League Play-offs.
Werder Bremen has made almost no changes on their squad and therefore maintains a team of high quality and international experience. There are concerns about the offer from Real Madrid for Mesut Özil. If Özil plays against Sampdoria, Real would probably withdraw the offer. So Özil will presumably not play, similar situation for Hugo Almeida. Bremen has won the first match of the season in Cup at RW Ahlen 4:0 last Saturday.
Also Sampdoria Genua hasn't changed much on their squad, just coach Mimmo Di Carlo is new. While Genuas midfield doesn't really count to the European elite, their strength is up front, where Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini are dangerous. For Sampdoria this is the first competitive outing of the season.
SV Werder Bremen vs UC Sampdoria Genua
UEFA Champions League: Play-Off - 1st leg
Date: 18.August 2010, 20:45 CET
Stadium: Weser-Stadion, Bremen
Referee: Stéphane Lannoy (France)
Werder Bremen:
Keeper: Wiese
Defenders: Pasanen - Prödl - Mertesacker - Fritz
Midfielders: Frings - Hunt - Bargfrede - Borowski (Özil)
Forwards: Pizarro - Almeida (Arnautovic)
Coach: Schaaf
Injured: Naldo
Booked: -
Sampdoria Genua:
Keeper: Curci
Defenders: Lucchini - Stankevicius - Gastaldello - Ziegler
Midfielders: Palombo - Semioli - Dessena - Mannini
Forwards: Cassano - Pazzini
Coach: Di Carlo
Injured: -
Booked: -
At the moment the Weser-Stadion gets reconstructed, therefore parts of the stadium will not be available.
No matches played so far
Even without Özil and Almeida Werder has enough quality and experience to win their home match.
The best odds on Bremen-to-win you can find at
