On the second match day of the 2008/2009 UEFA Champions League campaign, Werder Bremen managed to snatch a point with a 1-1 (0-1) draw away to Italian giants Inter Milan...
On the second match day of the 2008/2009 UEFA Champions League campaign, Werder Bremen managed to snatch a point with a 1-1 (0-1) draw away to Italian giants Inter Milan...
On the second match day of the 2008/2009 UEFA Champions League campaign, Werder Bremen managed to snatch a point with a 1-1 (0-1) draw away to Italian giants Inter Milan. 40,000 spectators at the Giuseppe-Meazza-Stadium saw Maicon put the home side in front after just 14 minutes but in the second period, Claudio Pizarro equalised for the visitors (62’). The result leaves trainer Thomas Schaaf’s side in third place in Group B with two points from the first two games.
Right from the very first minute, the Italian champions displayed their class and put pressure on Werder keeper Tim Wiese’s goal. Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic fired the the first warning signal as he collected an ingenious 40 meter pass from Adriano, but could only find the side-netting. Unfortunately for Werder, just six minutes later, Frank Baumann deflected a pass from Adriano into the path of Maicon, who coolly chipped over the advancing Wiese to give the home side a 1-0 lead.
Having fallen behind, Werder took some time to find their way back into the game but then looked to penetrate in more attacking fashion, however the Green-White’s attack was all too often smothered by Inter’s very well organised defensive wall. The best chance to equalise in the first half fell to striker Claudio Pizarro. The Peruvian striker, surrounded by two defenders, managed to get a toe to a well weighted cross from Prödl, but could only find the post with his effort and trainer Thomas Schaaf’s men went into the break trailing 0-1.
After the re-start, Werder initially had problems creating clear openings. The Italian defence proved solid and the visitors at times a little low on luck in particular situations. Unyielding in their attempts to break Inter down, the Green-Whites got their reward in the 62nd minute. Mesut Özil whipped in a threatening cross from the right which eluded everyone but Claudio Pizarro, who slid in at the back post and converted from close range to make it 1-1.
With the sides back on level terms, Inter Milan took control of the tie once again and went in search of a winner. Werder stood up to the task well and were aided in the efforts by the fresh legs of Aaron Hunt, Daniel Jensen and Clemens Fritz coming in to replace Markus Rosenberg, Özil and Sebastian Prödl respectively. In the third minute of added time, it was Werder who came closest to snatching all three points and the hosts who needed to ride their luck. A powerful free-kick from 20 meters out was batted down to the feet of Pizarro, but with only the keeper to beat, the striker could merely crash the ball into the side netting. The score was to remain at 1-1, but Werder will be aware that, with a bit of luck, they could have decided this game in their favour.
The game at a glance:
Inter Milan: Cesar – Maicon, Cordoba, Materazzi (19’ Burdisso), Zanetti – Stankovic (72’ Quaresma), Cambiassso, Muntari – Adriano (78’ Cruz), Balotelli, Ibrahimovic.
Werder Bremen: Wiese – Prödl (86‘ Fritz), Mertesacker, Naldo, Pasanen – Baumann, Frings, Özil (82‘ Jensen), Diego - Pizarro, Rosenberg (77‘ Hunt).
Goals: 1-0 Maicon (13‘), 1-1 Pizarro (62‘).
Referee: Michel (Slovakia)
Attendance: 40,000 (Giuseppe-Meazza-Stadium)
Yellow cards: Cruz - Baumann, Diego, Frings