Werder Bremen defender Sebastian Prodl says he is hoping to spoil Jurgen Klopp's farewell party by beating Borussia Dortmund to a Europa League spot.
Bremen are seventh in the Bundesliga after Sunday's 1-0 victory over Hamburg, and that could well be enough to clinch a European qualification spot depending on the eventual winners of the DFB-Pokal.
However, Dortmund -- who are among the contenders for the Pokal along with Bayern Munich, Wolfsburg and Arminia Bielefeld -- are also hoping to secure a Europa League spot as Klopp looks to end his stay at the Westfalenstadion on a high.
A host of teams remain in contention in a highly congested middle section of the Bundesliga table but, with five games of the season remaining, there is the prospect that BVB's game at home to Bremen on the final day of the season could be decisive.
Prodl told kicker: "We want to spoil Klopp's farewell, if something's still at stake that day."
Werder CEO Thomas Eichin said that he was not surprised that Dortmund, who went into the winter break in the relegation zone, were among the teams competing for the final spot in Europe.
"We definitely expected them in the race," he said.
Meanwhile, Danish defender Jannik Vestergaard, who was recently linked with a transfer to Everton, has been ruled out for around two weeks following a foul by Hamburg captain Rafael van der Vaart, the club announced on their official website.