Bayern Munich vs. Werder Bremen: Key Issues That Will Shape Bundesliga Game
Bayern Munich return to Bundesliga action this Saturday with an intriguing encounter against old rivals Werder Bremen at the Allianz Arena.
Pep Guardiola's side have had a rather comfortable start to the new league campaign, with five wins and two draws in their opening seven matches and a simple march to the top of the table amid a notable lack of any worthy opponents.
Borussia Dortmund have still to get their act together, while other top four contenders such as Wolfsburg, Gladbach and Bayer Leverkusen struggle to find the consistency needed for such a role.
At the other end of the table we have Bremen. Dead last in the league ladder with a mere four points from their opening seven games.
Robin Dutt has done his best to turn things around after a surprisingly successful late push to stave off relegation last year, but it would seem as though his side are destined to do things the hard way again this campaign.
It's top versus bottom in the Bundesliga this weekend and there most certainly is a world of difference between these two sides at the minute.
Thomas Muller Must Turn the Corner on His Poor Form
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Thomas Muller hasn't exactly looked like himself lately.
Perhaps still jaded from a gruelling yet successful World Cup campaign, Muller has had a quiet start to the season by his own standards.
Dropped to the bench in Bayern's win over Hannover just before the international break, the German forward looked anything but himself as his national team lost to Poland and drew with Ireland.
Aside from a successful stint against promoted Paderborn, we haven't really seen the lanky, indirect poster-boy of Bundesliga football really take off in this current campaign. And it's hurting Guardiola's side to no end.
Bremen Must Be Wary of Away Form
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When it comes to Bremen's form this season, it's truly slim pickings when asked to find some positives from the current campaign.
Unfortunately, the club's away record this year is far from impressive and doesn't offer any respite from the suggestion that this once proud club are due another heavy defeat at the hands of their upcoming Bavarian opponents.
Dutt's side have played one extra game away from home so far this season but have already conceded over twice as many goals as they have done at home.
From four games they've only managed to take two points, draws away to Hertha Berlin and Bayer Leverkusen, which suggests another clear Bayern win is on the cards.
Bayern Must Hit the Ground Running
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To the upset and simple annoyance of most Bayern fans, it was in fact the club's last game before the international break that we saw them truly explode into excitement for the first time this season.
Despite winning league games and taking maximum points in Europe, Guardiola's team seem to have waited until Hannover came to town to finally unleash the form that won them so much success last season.
What now matters to fans and Guardiola is that we see more of those performances between now and the Christmas break. Bayern have been good this season but all too often far from excellent. It's time to step it up a gear.
Bremen Have Rarely Gotten the Better of Bayern
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To compare the head-to-head records between these two clubs in recent seasons would simply be unfair.
Bayern tend to hold a slight advantage over most teams in the league, but considering the troubles that Bremen have gone under recently it wouldn't make much sense.
Instead, it is worth pointing out that even when things were good at Weserstadion, this club still have a certain affinity with the Bavarian giants.
During the 2005-06 and the 2007-08 seasons which saw Die Werderaner finish second in the Bundesliga, they still only managed to beat Bayern on one occasion from five.
In fact, as Soccerbase points out; in all competitions Bayern have won almost twice as many games against Bremen as they have done against the Munich side.
We expect a similar result on Saturday.
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