Werder the one outsider capable of causing real upset
By Kevin Fylan
BERLIN, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Werder Bremen face a daunting task in a group featuring Barcelona and Chelsea but no one who has seen them in action over the last couple of seasons would write off their chances of causing a Champions League upset.
Under Thomas Schaaf, Werder have played the best attacking football in the Bundesliga, running riot at times against even the best of defences.
After winning the German title in 2004, they have not quite shown the necessary consistency to challenge Bayern Munich but at their best they have been as entertaining a side as any in Europe.
They have also done well in the Champions League, making it through to the knock-out phase of the competition in each of the last two seasons.
In 2004-05, they suffered a humiliating 10-2 aggregate defeat by Olympique Lyon in the last 16. Last season, they came within a whisker of knocking out Juventus at the same stage, with only a calamitous late mistake from Tim Wiese costing them a quarter-final spot.
The defence is solid enough, with plenty of attacking threat provided by adventurous right-back Patrick Owomoyela and a top quality centre-back in the Brazilian Naldo.
In Torsten Frings they have a holding midfielder of the highest quality, a player who outshone Michael Ballack throughout the World Cup.
The more creative work is done by Tim Borowski, an excellent passer, and new signing Diego.
The latter, a Brazilian playmaker signed from Porto over the close-season, has been in outstanding form over the opening few games of the Bundesliga campaign, threading passes to the forwards and threatening to score every time he has ventured into the box.
Scoring goals is never going to be a problem for Werder when Miroslav Klose is fit.
The Germany striker won the Golden Boot at the World Cup with his five goals and he deserved to be a lot closer to the Player of the Tournament award as well.
The 28-year-old possesses a deft touch as well as a devastating eye for goal and he will have watched Barcelona's frail defensive display against Sevilla in the 3-0 European Supercup defeat in Monaco at the end of August with great interest.
