Werder Bremen are fighting for their Bundesliga lives 25 matches into 2019/20, but where there's Milot Rashica and Josh Sargent, there's a way. bundesliga.com takes a closer look at how the Green-Whites got themselves into such a pickle, and how they might get out of it...

Who they signed: Werder kept transfer activity to a minimum, despite the summer departure of captain and talisman Max Kruse. The former Germany international had a direct hand in 20 Bundesliga goals in 2018/19, scoring 11 and assisting nine, but decided against renewing his contract and was later picked up on a free by Fenerbahce. The arrival of former youth player Niclas Füllkrug from relegated Hannover and the loan signing of Hoffenheim's Leonardo Bittencourt, were designed to soften the blow, while US striker Sargent embarked on his first full season as a pro after outgrowing the U23s. Turkey international defender Ömer Toprak rocked up on loan from Borussia Dortmund with over 200 Bundesliga games to his name; Hoffenheim counterpart Kevin Vogt and Hertha Berlin forward Davie Selke followed suit in the new year.

What they expected: Having gone so close to a return to Europe after a nine-year absence last term, Werder launched into the new campaign with genuine designs on another tilt at the top six. Just a point separated Florian Kohfeldt's men from the UEFA Europa League qualification places at the end of 2018/19, and hopes were high they could bridge the gap. "I want to help us at least qualify for the Europa League," asserted Sargent in pre-season.

Florian Kohfeldt oversaw 11th- and eighth-placed finishes in his first two seasons as Bremen head coach. - imago images / Christoph Worsch

How it played out: Not how Sargent and the Green-White army expected. With nine rounds of fixtures remaining, Werder sit in 17th place, four points behind relegation play-off spot incumbents Fortuna Düsseldorf and eight adrift of outright safety. Twenty-seven goals scored is a joint-league low shared with rock-bottom Paderborn; 55 conceded represents an unwanted league high. The honeymoon period is well and truly over for coach Florian Kohfeldt. Werder's 39-year Bundesliga stay could be, too, at this rate.

Key player: Werder would be a lot worse off without the team-leading seven goals of Rashica. Although the Kosovo international hasn't scored in the league since breaking the deadlock in the chastening 6-1 loss to Bayern Munich on Matchday 15 (nine appearances), he helped secure seven points with his previous six efforts in draws with Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen and Freiburg, and the 3-2 win at Wolfsburg. The 23-year-old further underlined his penchant for the 'big games' with his only strike of 2020 to date in Bremen's shock DFB Cup last-16 triumph over Dortmund.

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Best game: Had Bremen been in ruder health on the league front and not fallen to Frankfurt at the next hurdle in the domestic cup, that 3-2 win against BVB might have made the grade. Kohfeldt's strugglers fought fire with fire in what was only their third competitive home win of the campaign. Four have come on the road, including the spirited victory by the same scoreline at Wolfsburg's Volkswagen Arena on Bundesliga Matchday 13. Bremen took the lead thrice, with Rashica opening the scoring from the penalty spot and closing it out with seven minutes of normal time remaining to cap a performance that should fuel the flames of optimism ahead of a difficult run-in: Leverkusn (h), Freiburg (a), Borussia Mönchengladbach (h), Schalke (a), Wolfsburg (h), Paderborn (a), Bayern (h), Mainz (a) and Cologne (h).

Watch: Highlights of Werder's Rashica-inspired victory in Wolfsburg

Biggest surprise: Sargent is another reason why Bremen will believe they can pull off a great escape. The 20-year-old striker brushed off the disappointment of being left out of the USA's final squad for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup by scoring a stunning solo effort in the 3-2 win against Augsburg on Matchday 3 - his first start of the campaign.

Watch: Josh Sargent's sensational goal against Augsburg

He's added a further two goals and as many assists to his tally across 18 Bundesliga appearances (nine starts) so far this term, and get this: Werder have not lost any of the five league games in 2019/20 in which the 12-time US international has been involved in a goal (W1, D4). Sargent plus Rashica could equal survival...

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