The bookmakers are leaning slightly towards Frankfurt, but are still setting both wins at 2.6. This seems like a reasonable price for the visitors, considering Bremen’s run of six games without a win, their 3-0 defeat in Dortmund, and a defense missing Wöber, Stark, Agu, and Weiser. Bremen can still score, though: Milosevic is a new addition and Frankfurt regularly concede goals.
- Venue: Weserstadion, Bremen
- Date and time: January 16, 2026, 8:30 p.m.
- Competition: Bundesliga (matchday 18)
Werder Form & Record Check
Werder Bremen starts the second half of the season in 13th place in the table, with 17 points and no room for complacency, level on points with 1. FC Köln above them and only one point ahead of Hamburger SV. They have gone six games without a win in the league, and the trend is not encouraging, with no wins in their last five Bundesliga matches. The negative goal difference keeps the pressure on Steffen’s team high. The restart in Dortmund ended 0-3, again a mixture of decent running but too little punch, and after the break, the game tipped away. Before the winter break, there was a 0-0 draw in Augsburg, which showed more defensive discipline but also a lack of ideas up front. Defeats against Stuttgart (0-4) and HSV (3-2) revealed how quickly things fall apart as soon as the transition moments become unsettled. Statistically, Werder often start games more solidly than they finish them, with four of their last five first halves remaining under 1.5 goals. After that, they conceded goals in 4 out of 5 games in the second half and lost this section too often. The absences of Weiser, Agu, Stark, and Wöber reduce the balance at the back, and Boniface is also missing and Keïta has moved on. Milosevic must give the attack a clear focal point.
Steffen is likely to stick with a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Backhaus probably behind a back three of Pieper, Friedl, and Coulibaly in the starting lineup. With Weiser and Agu missing, the wingback positions could go to Sugawara on the right and Schmidt on the left, which further increases the importance of timing and defensive discipline on the flanks. In midfield, Lynen and Stage are the likely duo in the double six, tasked with securing the center and accelerating Werder’s first pass forward. Schmid and Grüll seem to be the most obvious two playmakers behind Njinmah, with Milosevic a clear alternative, especially with Boniface out for the rest of the season. Stark and Wöber are also missing at the back, which means the squad is getting thinner.
Frankfurt Form & Record Check
Eintracht Frankfurt travels to Bremen in 7th place in the table with 26 points, and the table is unforgiving. Leverkusen is only 3 points ahead, Freiburg 3 behind, and a brief slump could quickly turn the narrative around. Before the restart, there was a narrow 1-0 win against Augsburg and a 1-1 draw at Hamburger SV, but the 2-1 defeat in Barcelona exposed the familiar defensive lapses once again. The 3-3 draw against Dortmund showed both sides of Toppmöller’s team. They had the nerve to respond time and again, and Dahoud’s shot in stoppage time looked like it would seal the deal, but a sloppy moment at the back led to a final twist. Four days later, they lost 3-2 in Stuttgart. Although Kristensen scored early and Amaimouni pulled them back into the game, their game management went out the window once again. Across all competitions, Frankfurt has scored in each of its last five games, including four with a goal in the first half. The downside is that they have also conceded in four of those five games, which means their leads quickly become shaky. Santos has taken back the gloves from Zetterer, which could help, but the back line continues to look nervous. Ebnoutalib and Kalimuendo bring sharpness to the team, but Uzun, Burkardt, and Batshuayi are still missing.
Toppmöller is likely to stick with his familiar 4-2-3-1 formation, with Santos once again scheduled to start in goal. The likely back four will consist of Kristensen, Koch, Theate, and Brown, a unit that will probably defend a little deeper in order to be better protected during transitions. In midfield, Skhiri and Larsson are likely to play as a double six, with Götze in the center and Doan and Knauff providing width behind Kalimuendo. With Uzun still out, Frankfurt’s creativity between the lines could once again depend heavily on Götze, while the absences of Burkardt and Batshuayi limit the options for a classic number nine. That’s exactly why Kalimuendo is the obvious choice up front. The absence of Baum and Chandler also limits the rotation at full-back, so Brown may have to pace himself a little better. If adjustments are needed, Chaïbi or Dahoud could change the rhythm from the bench.
Werder – Frankfurt Head-to-head comparison & statistics
In the last five Bundesliga matches, Eintracht Frankfurt has narrowly come out on top with two wins, while Werder Bremen has one win and two draws. These draws ended 2-2 in 2023 and 1-1 in 2024, with a total of eight goals for Frankfurt and six for Bremen. Only one game had fewer than 2 total goals, the 1-0 in 2024. The most decisive result came in August 2025, when Frankfurt marched through with a 4-1 victory, the highest win in this series. Previously, in April 2025, Bremen kept them at bay with a 2-0 win. These two consecutive results suggest a duel that is decided by small details rather than one side dominating every phase. A common thread is the slow start, with four consecutive duels seeing fewer than two goals in the first half. After that, the games usually open up, with both teams scoring in three of the five matches. Bremen has conceded goals in three consecutive games, while Frankfurt has scored in three consecutive games, which could prompt Steffen’s team to manage the transition moments a little more cautiously.
