Werder Bremen came up with a strong performance in beating Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the final group match of the UEFA Europa League to secure first place in Group L. Werder’s...
Werder Bremen came up with a strong performance in beating Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the final group match of the UEFA Europa League to secure first place in Group L. Werder’s...
Werder Bremen came up with a strong performance in beating Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the final group match of the UEFA Europa League to secure first place in Group L. Werder’s goals were all scored in the first half by Claudio Pizarro, Naldo and Markus Rosenberg.
Thomas Schaaf’s team offered up a perfect performance in the first half in front of 30,000 fans in Bilbao. Werder went ahead in the 13th minute on a header by Claudio Pizarro as the striker stood perfectly after a fine cross by Markus Rosenberg. Naldo increased the lead in the 20th minute on a header off a free kick by Mesut Özil. And things were more or less decided in the 35th minute as Rosenberg’s goal shocked the Spaniards, who trailed 3-0. And Werder took that lead into the changing rooms.
Bilbao started the second half more concentrated and worked hard to keep the Werder offence from running away with the match. After just more than an hour, Thomas Schaaf brought in Hugo Almeida for Claudio Pizarro. Rosenberg was close to making it 4-0 but could not beat the excellent Bilbao keeper. After that, Bremen did only what was necessary to bring home the victory. And Schaaf’s men celebrated a deserved victory in their last international game in 2009.
Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz – Etxeita, San Jose, Amorebieta – Aurtenetxe, Javi Martinez, Yeste (70’ Perez) , Susaeta – Muniain – Toquero (55’ Lopez), Diaz de Cerio (55’ Etxeberria)
Werder Bremen: Wiese – Prödl, Mertesacker, Naldo, Pasanen – Frings (68’ Niemeyer), Borowski, Jensen, Özil (70’ Marin), Rosenberg, Pizarro (62’ Almeida ); reserves: Mielitz – Hunt, Moreno
Goals: 0-1 (13’) Pizarro, 0-2 (20’) Naldo, 0-3 (35’) Rosenberg
Yellow cards: Rosenberg, Jensen (both Werder Bremen), Perez (Atheltic Bilbao)
Referee: Serge Gumienny (Belgium)
San Mames: 30,000 spectators
