Werder Bremen vs Union Berlin Prediction: Stage is set for Jens

Werder Bremen and Union Berlin will contest the Bundesliga's Friday night fixture (19:30 BST, BBC iPlayer) at the former's Weserstadion. Last season's corresponding fixture finished 4-1 in Werder's favour, but Union did restore some pride in Berlin, drawing 2-2.

Below are my Werder Bremen vs Union Berlin predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Max Wober (thigh), Niklas Stark (hip), Isaac Schmidt (foot), Mitchell Weiser (knee), Felix Agu and Olivier Deman (both ankle) miss out for Werder, whose head coach Horst Stoffen could promote Victor Boniface and Leonardo Bittencourt to his starting XI following last Saturday's 2-2 draw at Heidenheim.

Football Odds

Union are likely to be without Livan Burcu (ankle), Robin Skov (muscle), Andrik Markgraf (leg) and Andras Schafer (knock) for their trip to Bremen.

Oliver Burke, who scored eight times across 46 appearances for Werder before sealing a move to Union earlier this year, will hope to face his former club on Friday, having been left on the bench for the duration of last week's 3-0 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach.

Werder Bremen vs Union Berlin Odds

Werder are 23/20, or a 46.5% chance, to record back-to-back Bundesliga wins, while Union are 9/4 (30.8%) to claim three points on their travels for the second time this term, with the draw priced at 5/2.

Both Teams To Score & Total Goals Over/Under +2.5 Goals - Yes & Over 2.5 @ 1/1

Both teams have scored in five of the last seven Bundesliga meetings between Werder Bremen and Union Berlin, including both last season, as five goals were struck in the first meeting, and four, equally shared, in the second.

Goals have followed both teams this season, with Bremen's league games averaging 3.85 goals, and Union's averaging 3.57.

Today's Football Fixtures

There have been at least three goals scored in six of Werder's Bundesliga outings this term, and the same could be said of five of Union's games, including last week's 3-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach.

Only Eintracht Frankfurt (18) have conceded more Bundesliga goals this season than Werder (16), and Union (14) aren't much better off in that regard, so we could see a few strikes at the Weserstadion this Friday.

Anytime Goalscorer - Jens Stage (SVW) @ 3/1

Werder midfielder Jens Stage scored 10 goals in 28 Bundesliga appearances last season, and 30% (two) of his tally came in two games against Union - one in last December's 4-1 win in Bremen, and a brace in May's 2-2 draw in Berlin.

The 28-year-old missed Werder's first two league games this term due to injury, but he made a goalscoring return to action in their 4-0 win at Monchengladbach on September 14, and doubled his tally in last weekend's stalemate in Heidenheim.

Against a club he enjoyed so much success last season, the 3/1 on Stage to score anytime on Friday looks appealing.

Offers

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