Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich host mid-table Werder Bremen at the Allianz Arena on Saturday afternoon looking to reverse their worst run of form this season following draws with Borussia Dortmund (0-0) and Juventus (2-2) and defeat to Mainz 05 (1-2) in recent weeks.
With Bianconeri fans looking on eagerly to see if the Bavarians may slip up once more ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League last 16 second-leg encounter in Munich, Pep Guardiola’s men still remain firm favourites to register a 21st league victory of the season in a fixture they have historically dominated.
In fact, Juve’s European rivals have won all of their last ten Bundesliga meetings with Saturday’s visitors, the last five courtesy of a staggering 23 goals, since a 5-2 home defeat back in September 2008.
Despite enduring a difficult campaign thus far, Viktor Skrypnyk’s visitors will head to Munich with a spring in their step after consecutive 4-1 victories over Bayer Leverkusen and Hannover lifted them up to 13th place, their highest position in the standings since September.
As for team news, Guardiola is still without centre-backs Holger Badstuber and Jerome Boateng, both still sidelined with long-term injuries. Fellow defender Javi Martinez is working towards a return to full training but is not expected to be available in time for Saturday’s encounter.