Past comebacks spur Bremen

If any club has a tradition of salvaging unlikely victories in UEFA competitions, then Werder Bremen hold that title.

Three goals in arrears to RSC Anderlecht in a group-stage game in the 1993/94 UEFA Champions League, the German side scored five goals without response in a 23-minute spell late in the second half to claim an unlikely win. However, in the context of this fixture against Olympique Lyonnais, where Bremen trail 3-0 after the first leg, coach Thomas Schaaf will be hoping for a similar comeback when his side visit Stade Gerland.

The two sides met in the 1999/00 UEFA Cup at the third round stage when Lyon built a three-goal lead at home thanks to two first-half goals from Sonny Anderson and one after the break from Tony Vairelles. But Bremen completed a dramatic recovery in the return, Marco Bode, Andreas Herzog, Frank Baumann and Claudio Pizarro scoring without reply to book their place in the fourth round where they would overcome Parma FC before losing to Arsenal FC in the quarter-finals.

Lyon goalkeeper Grégory Coupet is the only survivor from that tie in the French club’s ranks, while for Bremen, Baumann and coach Thomas Schaaf were involved in that tie five years ago. Bremen have faced French opposition only once since that date, losing 4-1 on aggregate to FC Girondins de Bordeaux in the third round of the 2000/01 UEFA Cup. Overall, the German side have lost all three of their engagements to date in France.

Lyon's recent involvement in UEFA Champions League action has provided them with more experience of German opposition as they have faced FC Bayern München twice and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the last four years with mixed results.

Their most recent meeting came against Bayern in last season's group stage, drawing 1-1 at home before winning 2-1 in Munich with Juninho Pernambucano and Giovane Elber on the scoresheet. The two sides ultimately advanced from the group phase with Lyon going on to defeat Real Sociedad de Fútbol in the first knockout round before losing to eventual winners FC Porto at the quarter-final stage.