Pizarro ready to bury Bremen's Bundesliga blues

Claudio Pizarro believes Werder Bremen can end a turbulent season on a high by lifting the UEFA Cup, though the striker is first focused on his side's Round of 16 tie against AS Saint-Etienne.

Bundesliga blues
Bremen are without a win in six Bundesliga games and lie in the bottom half of the table after finishing as runners-up to FC Bayern München last season. They also endured a difficult UEFA Champions League campaign and only recorded their first win of the group stage at home to FC Internazionale Milano on Matchday 6, a victory which propelled the German outfit into this competition, where they knocked out AC Milan on away goals in the Round of 32.

'Turning point'
"Our win against Milan is a turning point in a season which has not been satisfying for us so far," said Pizarro, who scored both of Bremen's goals in that 2-2 second-leg draw at San Siro. "Now we can bring it to a good end." The Peruvian, who sat out training on Monday due to flu, has, along with Torsten Frings and Clemens Fritz (both thigh), recovered in time to face St-Etienne. However, coach Thomas Schaaf knows the French club will cause his side problems. "It will be a tough tie, but I believe in my team's strength," he said.

Away goal
Bremen found the net three times over two legs against AC Milan in the last round and are among the top scorers in Germany despite their lowly league position. St-Etienne coach Alain Perrin is well aware of such statistics but is aiming for an away goal to take back to the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard next week, saying: "As usual in the first leg, we'll try to keep our hopes alive for the return. I noticed Bremen have a strong front line so we'll have to be steady in defence, but we are not here for that. We'll also try to score." Efstathios Tavlaridis is suspended for Les Verts who may also be without strikers Bafétimbi Gomis and Ilan due to ankle injuries.