Berlin (dpa) - Two of Bayern Munich's biggest rivals of recent
Bundesliga history are battling it out Saturday to avoid going into
the winter break in the relegation zone - and possibly bottom
position.
While Bayern enjoy an 11-point lead at the top on 42 points, Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund find themselves in trouble, with Werder propping up the table on 14 points
and Dortmund third last, one point ahead.
Both sides have had a keen rivalry with Bayern over the past two decades, but Bremen are in a process of reformation after the 14-year spell under coach Thomas Schaaf and the glory years of the late 1980s and first half of the 90s under Otto Rehhagel.
"We are in the cellar, are last, so of course we're all very dissatisfied," coach Viktor Skripnik said.
"It's difficult to get out of there but we have to give everything we have one more time against Dortmund for three points.
"We want to give something back to the fans. Then thankfully we have the winter break in which we can work in peace and prepare meticulously."
Former Bremen player Skripnik took over in late October after the dismissal of Robin Dutt, but the change has not achieved the desired results so far and Bremen go into the game off a 4-1 defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Relegation for only the second time in the club's history is a distinct possibility for the four-time champions.
Bremen's last league title in 2004 interrupted a run of Bayern titles in 2003, 2005 and 2006, while Dortmund's Bundesliga win in 2002 came in between four Bayern triumphs from 1999 and 2003.
More recently, Dortmund's titles in 2011 and 2012 ended a spell of Bayern dominance, which has been restored over the past two season and looks set to continue with a third straight league win this season.
Dortmund, who were runners-up for the past two seasons, were expected to press again but coach Juergen Klopp finds himself with a relegation challenge, one for which his injury-hit squad has so far not been equal.
Klopp at least takes heart from a 2-2 draw at home to second-place Wolfsburg on Wednesday, the coach detecting signs his players are prepared for the fight.
"We are still alive," he said.
Dortmund saw victory snatched away by a late equalizer but Klopp said his players can "take a lot of positives from the game" for the trip to Bremen.
"We created some great chances and our pressing was also very good at times," he said.
"It was good to see that we were able to create some chances from transition play, something we barely did in the last weeks."
With only five points separating the bottom nine, a lot of clubs will be desperate for points for some respite during the winter break.
Bremen's northern rivals SV Hamburg, on 16 points, have a difficult trip to fifth-place Schalke Saturday, while VfB Stuttgart, level on points after beating Hamburg 1-0 away Tuesday, greet Paderborn (18 points). Freiburg, level on points with Bremen, entertain mid-table Hanover Sunday.
Undefeated Bayern meanwhile could stretch their lead to 14 points at the top with a win at Mainz (18 points) on Friday evening, before Wolfsburg's Saturday evening game at home to Cologne.
Coach Pep Guardiola will however have to make changes after losing four players to injury or illness.
Striker Robert Lewandowski and Xabi Alonso are recovering from knocks, defender Medhi Benatia has groin strain and midfielder Sebastian Rode is ill, Guardiola said.
Third-placed Moenchengladbach travel to Augsburg Saturday, while Bayer Leverkusen - level on points with Gladbach - are at home to Eintracht Frankfurt. Sunday's other game sees Hertha Berlin face visiting Hoffenheim.
While Bayern enjoy an 11-point lead at the top on 42 points, Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund find themselves in trouble, with Werder propping up the table on 14 points
and Dortmund third last, one point ahead.
Both sides have had a keen rivalry with Bayern over the past two decades, but Bremen are in a process of reformation after the 14-year spell under coach Thomas Schaaf and the glory years of the late 1980s and first half of the 90s under Otto Rehhagel.
"We are in the cellar, are last, so of course we're all very dissatisfied," coach Viktor Skripnik said.
"It's difficult to get out of there but we have to give everything we have one more time against Dortmund for three points.
"We want to give something back to the fans. Then thankfully we have the winter break in which we can work in peace and prepare meticulously."
Former Bremen player Skripnik took over in late October after the dismissal of Robin Dutt, but the change has not achieved the desired results so far and Bremen go into the game off a 4-1 defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Relegation for only the second time in the club's history is a distinct possibility for the four-time champions.
Bremen's last league title in 2004 interrupted a run of Bayern titles in 2003, 2005 and 2006, while Dortmund's Bundesliga win in 2002 came in between four Bayern triumphs from 1999 and 2003.
More recently, Dortmund's titles in 2011 and 2012 ended a spell of Bayern dominance, which has been restored over the past two season and looks set to continue with a third straight league win this season.
Dortmund, who were runners-up for the past two seasons, were expected to press again but coach Juergen Klopp finds himself with a relegation challenge, one for which his injury-hit squad has so far not been equal.
Klopp at least takes heart from a 2-2 draw at home to second-place Wolfsburg on Wednesday, the coach detecting signs his players are prepared for the fight.
"We are still alive," he said.
Dortmund saw victory snatched away by a late equalizer but Klopp said his players can "take a lot of positives from the game" for the trip to Bremen.
"We created some great chances and our pressing was also very good at times," he said.
"It was good to see that we were able to create some chances from transition play, something we barely did in the last weeks."
With only five points separating the bottom nine, a lot of clubs will be desperate for points for some respite during the winter break.
Bremen's northern rivals SV Hamburg, on 16 points, have a difficult trip to fifth-place Schalke Saturday, while VfB Stuttgart, level on points after beating Hamburg 1-0 away Tuesday, greet Paderborn (18 points). Freiburg, level on points with Bremen, entertain mid-table Hanover Sunday.
Undefeated Bayern meanwhile could stretch their lead to 14 points at the top with a win at Mainz (18 points) on Friday evening, before Wolfsburg's Saturday evening game at home to Cologne.
Coach Pep Guardiola will however have to make changes after losing four players to injury or illness.
Striker Robert Lewandowski and Xabi Alonso are recovering from knocks, defender Medhi Benatia has groin strain and midfielder Sebastian Rode is ill, Guardiola said.
Third-placed Moenchengladbach travel to Augsburg Saturday, while Bayer Leverkusen - level on points with Gladbach - are at home to Eintracht Frankfurt. Sunday's other game sees Hertha Berlin face visiting Hoffenheim.
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