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UEFA Champions League Preview: Werder Bremen v Barcelona (Group C) [Thu Sep 15th, 2005]
Werder Bremen are brimming with confidence ahead of their meeting with Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League, and both sides promise to attack.
The Bundesliga club go into the match on the back of a 5-1 away win at Kaiserslautern, but the suspension to striker Miroslav Klose will be a serious blow to their plans.
But coach Thomas Schaaf believes that his side can open up Barça’s mean defence by playing their normal style.
"We will stick to our method of offering attacking football," he said.
"If we sit back and wait for such an opponent to simply fire us away, then it will happen quickly."
After being hammered 10-2 on aggregate by Lyon in the same competition last term, Werder will be aiming to lay that ghost to rest with by beating Barça and sending a message out that they are ready for the top level of European football.
With Klose missing, Schaaf will name Paraguayan striker Nelson Valdez in his place, rather than attempt to stop the Catalan club’s attacking options in the middle by fielding a fifth midfielder.
Werder qualified to reach the group stages of the Champions League after coming the qualifying round last month where they defeated Basle 5-1 on aggregate.
The German club tasted victory against Spanish opposition last season when they beat Valencia home and away in the group stages of the tournament, helping to eliminate Los Ché.
Barcelona are on of the favourites to lift the trophy in Paris next spring and will harbour no intention of going to the Ruhr to play for a draw.
The attacking tactics have seen them win many plaudits, but along with scoring the most goals in their domestic league last season, the team also conceded the fewest goals.
Frank Rijkaard is not one for changing his system to suit the opponent, but he does believe that his midfielders will have to work hard to cut off the supply line to Werder’s strikers.
"Their strikers are good with their heads, but this does not worrying me," the Dutchman said.
"We are not looking at dealing with the height to stop them from developing their play but rather the formula.
"Our planning will remain the same. We will try to be together on the pitch and surprise the opponent.
"Our mentality is always to win."
The fact that Barça are facing an opponent who will open up and play attacking football will come as a refreshing change after they have faced two clubs in their opening league games that have packed their defence.
After a goalless draw in Alavés, Rijkaard’s side beat Mallorca at the weekend with two goals from Samuel Eto’o.
But the games were not spectacles as one side sat back and packed their penalty area, while the other was left to find a way of breaking it down.
TEAM NEWS
Werder Bremen: The only change that the German side will have to make is up front, where Nelson Valdez will come into partner Ivan Klasnic in place of the suspended Miroslav Klose, who was sent off in the qualifying round against Basel.
Barcelona: Frank Rijkaard is set to name the same team that beat Mallorca at the weekend and leave Mark Van Bommel, who has yet to start in a competitive match for the club since joining in the summer, and Edmilson on the bench.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Werder Bremen: Reinke; Owomoyela, Pasanen, Naldo, Schulz; Baumann; Frings, Borowski; Micoud; Klasnic, Valdez
Barcelona: Valdés, Belletti, Oleguer, Puyol, Gio, Xavi, Márquez, Deco, Giuly, Ronaldinho, Eto’o
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