Werder Bremen vs Augsburg preview - Junuzovic contract boost for Bremen

Werder Bremen had a piece of good news for their fans on the eve of Saturday's home game with fellow form side Augsburg.

Winger Zlatko Junuzovic put pen to paper on a new contract until 2018 on Friday, ending speculation linking him with a move away from the club in the summer.

"We're really pleased that our optimism in recent days was not unfounded," said Bremen's director of sport Thomas Eichin.

"We had some very good talks. Zlatko fully identifies himself with Bremen and he's going to continue making a name for himself here.

"It's a positive signal for us in following the path we are on. He is one of the faces of Werder."

Austria international Junuzovic had attracted interest from several leading Bundesliga clubs as well as sides from abroad, but he believes Werder are heading in the right direction at long last.

Heading into the clash with Augsburg, Bremen have won four games in a row, moving closer to a place in Europe next season than relegation.

"Werder has become a second home to me over recent years and you can clearly see that things are heading in the right direction," Junuzovic said on his club's website.

"I'm signing on here fully convinced that with this team, and with the team we've got behind the team, and with all of these fans, we can achieve something amazing here."

The next step towards that could come on Saturday against a side who have dropped only two points in 2015 and moved up into a share of third place with Schalke.

Augsburg would not have been down by many as candidates for a place in the Champions League before the season began, yet they have underlined their growing credentials with a fine start to the new year.

Despite losing captain Paul Verhaegh to injury, their coach Markus Weinzierl is convinced he can "field a competitive side" at the Weser Stadion, including Abdul Rahman Baba, who is back from the African Nations Cup.