Nord derby

The 89th installment of the great Nord derby promises to be a highly explosive one within the early winter season. With Werder defensive woes, the attacking style of Martin Jol's Hamburg promises to make this a high scoring match if the Green Whites do not pay special interest in protecting Tim Wiese.

Thomas Schaaf is unsure of Clemens Fritz while Germany U-21 Mesut Özil is still serving suspension for his discretion. Hamburg will be without the services of Nigel de Jong and David Jarolim is suspended for the match.

While Werder fought hard to resist calling their situation as a "crisis" during a miserable October they have since rebounded with a mini-three match unbeaten streak, defeating the Berliners, FC Köln while playing VfL Bochum to a draw. Hamburg on the other hand has suffered with inconsistent play, looking brilliant at times while they beat Bayer Leverkusen and then being destroyed by the likes of TSG Hoffenheim, Wolfsburg and Hannover 96. However their fortunes turn measurably at home and have yet to lose this year.

The expected lineups are:
Bremen: Wiese - Pasanen, Mertesacker, Naldo, Niemeyer - Baumann - Frings, Vranjes - Diego - Almeida, Pizarro

Hamburg: Rost - Boateng, Reinhardt, Mathijsen, Jansen - Demel, Alex Silva - Trochowski, Guerrero, Olic - Petric

Conditions for the match will be perfect, well at-least perfect to me as I like matches in the snow. How this controls pace could could work to Werders advantage as it might nullify Hamburg's attack. While many will point to the key for Werder being the attacking forces of Diego and Claudio Pizarro, success in this match Torsten Frings and assuming he is healthy, Clemens Fritz. Without a controlling midfield, heavy on work-rate the Werder back-line woes will be exposed and this will be a long afternoon.