Werder Bremen

Werder Bremen beat expectations last season as a five-match unbeaten run in the final weeks helped them break into the top half of the league table, missing out on a European qualification spot by just one point. There has not been much movement in the transfer window for Bremen with the club largely holding on to their squad from last season. Dinkci returned from loan last season and has since been moved on to Freiburg while second and third choice keepers Pavlenka and Eduardo dos Santos have also left the club. Gross will be their biggest miss with the midfielder retiring at the end of last season, though the midfielder was largely on the bench last season making just eight starts. In terms of arrivals, Bremen have converted Alvero's loan into a permanent transfer while Keke Topp is the only other major acquisition, completing a move from Schalke. Markus Kolke and Marco Grull have also been signed but they are only expected to be support options. Bremen did struggle defensively in the opening months of last season, conceding at least two goals in eight of their opening 13 games, but did manage to tighten it up at the back. Coach Werner will be hoping to avoid a repeat start this time around and with the club managing to hold on to Ducksch, they will always pose a threat at the other end. Coach Werner will be aware his Bremen side overachieved last season and with no major arrivals so far, they will need to be at their very best if they are to have any hopes of repeating the performance this time around.