Serge Gnabry recognizes Wijnaldum as a critical man ahead of the Liverpool clash

Bayern Munich star Serge Gnabry has recognized Gini Wijnaldum as a vital participant for the Bavarian giants to neutralize ahead of the leading leg of their Champions League clash at Anfield.

The different sides will meet in a European knockout contest without precedent for nearly forty years, with this being one of the marquee ties of the Round of 16 (along with PSG Man Utd) when it was initially made. Bayern went unbeaten through the league stages yet will start dark horses against Liverpool, who are now top of the league in England.

Gnabry said that Wijnaldum “was all over the place” when he watched Liverpool’s matches and added that the Dutch international “works in the background” and “has a large impact” on the Reds’ game.

For the past two or three seasons, a team from the district of Bremen in northwest Germany has arisen as a serious threat to the Bavarian dominance. This team is the northern giants of SV Werder Bremen.

Werder has always been a significant xoilac gerBundesliga club yet has always lived in the shadows of its more renowned neighbour, Hamburger SV. Fortunes are gradually changing for Werder, however, as they became only one of four German sides to claim the domestic Double in 2004.

Under current manager Thomas Schaaf the club looks like they are expanding on their progress of 2004. Since that remarkable twofold, the club has completed third (during a physical issue plagued season in 2004/05) and sprinters up (in 2005/06).

This season the northern outfit looks as if they could go all the way. What makes people imagine Werder could claim their second Bundesliga title this decade? The answer is very perplexing; however, one reason is financing.

During the past decade, Bayern Munchen has had the option to call the shots in the transfer market and sign the best homegrown talent. This is because of their excellent financial position.

This is gradually changing as Bayern can never again contend with the top unfamiliar European clubs. This fact was featured throughout the mid-year when they entered an offering war with Real Madrid over Ruud van Nistelrooy. Bayern couldn’t match Real’s financial package to both club and player, and van Nistelrooy wound up at the Bernabeu.

Because Werder participates in the last two European Cups campaigns, they are financially in an ideal situation (especially as they have reached the last 16 on the two occasions). This has assisted them with rivalling Bayern more in the homegrown transfer market.

This was obvious in the late spring of 2006 when they beat off rivalry from different clubs to sign German World Cup star Per Mertesacker in a 5 million Euro deal with Hannover 96. Because of their development as another German power, they were also able to attract Brazilian playmaker Diego and clutch Golden Boot victor Miroslav Klose (notwithstanding interest from clubs like Manchester United).

With Werder managing to clutch central members (notwithstanding interest from abroad) and marking some phenomenal new talent, they are currently in a situation to challenge the dominance of Bayern realistically.

Early signs are promising for the 2006/07 campaign as Werder defeated Bayern 2-0 in August to claim the principal silverware of the season (as the Ligapokal prize). Werder has followed this accomplishment up with persuading displays over rivals Bayern Munchen (3-1), Leverkusen (2-1) and B.M’gladbach (3-1) and presently sit top of the Bundesliga table.