Despite a strong and battling performance, Werder Bremen were left empty handed as they went down 0:2 (0:1) against FC Barcelona.
Despite a strong and battling performance, Werder Bremen were left empty handed as they went down 0:2 (0:1) against FC Barcelona.
Despite a strong and battling performance, Werder Bremen were left empty handed as they went down 0:2 (0:1) against FC Barcelona. The Green-Whites failed to make good on a number of well worked openings, in particular during the first half and the cleverer Spanish champions capitalised, taking their chances with a deflected drive from Deco (13') which was doubled by a Ronaldinho penalty in the second period (76').
A capacity crowd of 37,000 saw Bremen get off to a flying start. With just a minute gone, Ivan Klasnic set Nelson Valdez, who replaced the suspended Miroslav Klose, on his way. The Paraguayean got his shot away but was denied by the reflexes of his, almost, namesake Victor Valdés. Werder appeared nervous and somewhat hectic during the opening period whilst their opponents allowed the ball to flow freely within their ranks. The visitors first attempt on goal was also to put them in front. Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Gio) delivered from the right and Ronaldinho somehow managed to control the pass amidst a throng of defenders and pick out Eto'o who in turn fed Deco. The Portugese international let fly and his shot tok a wicked deflection off the heal of Werder captain Frank Baumann, which caught keeper Andreas Reinke on the wrong foot. 0:1 (13').
Nine minutes later, the guets from Catalan almost doubled their lead when 'Gio' got on the end of a Xavi corner but sliced his effort just wide of the mark. Werder had played well until midway through but had difficulty in breaking down the tightly compact Barca defence built around captain Carles Puyol.
From the 27th minute onwards that was all to change with Werder blooming in the shape of Valdez. The young striker nipped past Oleguer on the right and drove the ball across the box which Ivan Klasnic was only a whisker away from connecting with. The Catalan side reacted instantly and Reinke had to be at his best to turn away an effort from Eto'o.
Valdez misses sitter
Werder had their best period before the break and created chances continually. Firstly Klasnic missed out on a Valdez cross (29'), then it was vice versa as Valdez couldn't get on the end of a Klasnic delivery (34'). Klasnic then pounced on a mistake by Belletti and marched down the left - the Croatian drove his pass across the face of the goal only to have Valdez blast over the bar from five meters. Torsten Frings (38') and Johan Micoud (41') both tried their luck from distance before Werders French star took on a lay off from Valdez and volleyed against the Barcelona left upright to bring the half to a stunning close which was hugely appreciated by the Werder faithful.
The home side had the first chance of the second half with a free-kick from Naldo which flew wide of the right post. A rare but effective Barca attact almost gave Deco his second but the Brazilian born striker, as Micoud before him, was foiled by the left upright. The hosts had problems maintaining the pace of the first half and were unable to put the same amount of pressure on their opponents goal. Bremens only real chances in the second 45 minutes were two shots from Klasnic (54', 64') and a stinging free-kick from Petri Pasanen (73') which Valdés turned fantastically around the upright.
Ronaldinho decides the tie from the spot
It was a penalty which eventually decided the tie. Substitute Lionel Messi went down under the challenge of Christian Schulz and referee Terje Hauge pointed instantly to the spot. Ronaldinho, who had been unable to prove his class against an active Patrick Owomoyela stepped up and converted from the spot to decide the tie (76'). Barcelona cleverly played out the rest of the half and took all three points back home much to the frustration of Werder Bremen.
