Hoffenheim made it five wins from seven to start the season after edging a five-goal spectacle at Werder Bremen. Romano Schmid cancelled out an early goal from Maximilian Beier, but TSG deservedly restored their lead through Grsicha Prömel's well-struck shot from outside the box. Justin Njinmah had a goal ruled out for offside as Werder turned the screw, with their persistence rewarded in added time when substitute Jens Stage applied a fine finish to Christian Groß's pull-back. There was time for one final twist, though, as Marius Bülter - another second-half introduction - fired in a fabulous first-time strike to break Bremen hearts.

Fresh legs for Hoffenheim in the form of Becker and Bebou, Matarazzo reacting to his team's fading energy levels. Werner introduces attacking midfielder Bittencourt in search of a late leveller, with defender Friedl hooked.

Positive from Matarazzo as Bülter, who top scored for Schalke last season, replaces Skov on the left-hand side. Borré and Stage are on for Bremen, who need a goal...

There's a bit of a lull, which is to be expected. The first half was very much of the all-action variety.

Bremen get the second half under way. No changes for either side.

Neither side are holding back in the early exchanges. Very open start to this one.

Great atmosphere in Bremen. Will in-form Hoffenheim spoil the party?

"The Weserstadion awaits us with a very intense atmosphere. The team look for a direct route to goal, we'll have to absorb that intensity. We need to do what is required in order to be victorious. Bremen have won their last two home matches, but we've also been successful away so far. The team that brings more to the game always has an advantage in the Bundesliga. The league is even, there's never a clear favourite."

"They're a team with lots of experience and quality in every position, which is proven by their current place in the table. However, every opposition gives you something you can exploit, which we aim to do at the weekend."

Werner makes five changes to the team beaten by Darmstadt. Marco Friedl returns and Marco Rapp is brought into the defence, with Naby Keïta and Anthony Jung starting in midfield and Justin Njinmah preferred to Rafael Borré in attack. Amos Pieper, Christian Groß, Jens Stage and Olivier Deman also make way. As for Hoffenheim, Pavel Kadeřábek gets the nod over Ihlas Bebou on the right wing, while Dutch striker Wout Weghorst comes in for the injured Andrej Kramarić.

Pavlenka – Veljković, Rapp, Friedl – Weiser, Schmid, Lynen, Keïta, Jung – Njinmah, Ducksch

Zetterer, Agu, Groß, Stage, Bittencourt, Opitz, Kownacki, Borré, Woltemade

Baumann – Kabak, Brooks, Vogt – Kadeřábek, Prömel, Grillitsch, Stach, Skov – Beier, Weghorst

Philipp, Akpoguma, Szalai, Becker, Bischof, Tohumcu, Berisha, Bebou, Bülter

Hoffenheim are unbeaten in their last eight Bundesliga games in Bremen since a 3-1 loss in April 2014 (W3, D5). TSG have never managed a longer unbeaten run away at a club in the top flight (currently also 8 at Cologne), while Werder are only on a longer winless run in the Bundesliga at home to Bayern (15).

Werder have made their worst start to a Bundesliga season for six years with six points after six games. They only had three on the board in 2017/18, when they finished 11th. Meanwhile, Hoffenheim are looking good and especially on the road. They have the best away record (nine points) in the Bundesliga this season and have won their first three away games of a top-flight campaign for the first time ever. In comparison, they won just three on the road all last term.