Werder Bremen and VfB Stuttgart shared the spoils in a 0:0 draw on the 20th match day of the season. The Green-Whites were the optically superior side in a game that never really lived up to expectations but were unable to find the breakthrough.
Werder Bremen and VfB Stuttgart shared the spoils in a 0:0 draw on the 20th match day of the season. The Green-Whites were the optically superior side in a game that never really lived up to expectations but were unable to find the breakthrough.
Werder Bremen and VfB Stuttgart shared the spoils in a 0:0 draw on the 20th match day of the season. The Green-Whites were the optically superior side in a game that never really lived up to expectations but were unable to find the breakthrough. Bitter for Werder was the injury to keeper Andreas Reinke who was carried off leaving a pool of blood behind him after an unfortunate clash with VfB striker Martin Stranzl.
Trainer Thomas Schaaf made three changes to the side which beat Mainz 4:2. Jurica Vranjes and Daniel Jensen filled the midfield spots left open by the suspended Frank Baumann and Tim Borowski. In the back four, Christian Schulz returned after his suspension with Jelle van Damme returning to the bench.
Dominant defence, few goal chances
Bremen were the dominant side against a Stuttgart team who were defensive in their formation but the visitors failed to produce any real openings. At the other end, VfB tried their luck but often fell foul to the Werder off-side trap. In the 16th minute, the home side had the first chance of the game. Soldo headed Mario Gomez, who got the nod ahead of Dane Jon Dahl Tomasson up front, but the young striker couldn't control the ball as it bounced off his foot.
Almost immediately on the counter attack the guests from the North notched up their first chance in front of 30,000 spectators at the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadium. Nelson Valdez climbed to meet a Torsten Frings free-kick but failed to control the headed effort which landed well wide of the target (18'). VfB were on the march again in the 33rd minute and almost punished a mistake by keeper Andreas Reinke. The keeper fumbled a 30 meter drive from Thomas Hitzlsperger but Reinke made up for his mistake as he blocked the shot on the rebound from Christian Tiffert. The Green-Whites attempted to find an instant answer and very nearly took the lead themselves. Ivan Klasnic was fed on the right wing by Johan Micoud. The Croatian put a low delivery across the box where Nelson Valdez was poised to slide the ball home but somehow managed to let the cross squeeze between his feet without making contact and blew a 100% chance to give his side the lead.
Hildebrand denies Schulz twice
Both sides went into the break without having found the net and the second half began just as the first half had progressed. Both Giovanni Trapattoni and Thomas Schaaf's teams were tight at the back but proved equally unimaginative going forward. Schaaf was first to react and brought German international Patrick Owomoyela for Jurica Vranjes (59') in an attempt to rejuvinate his midfield. The visitors began to take charge and Timo Hildebrand had to call upon his quick reactions to deny Christian Schulz, the rebound was then skyed by Valdez. Klasnic also missed out on a chance to give Werder the edge when he missed out after some good play between Pasanen and Owomoyela. Hildebrand was on hand again in the 73rd minute when again Schulz tested the Stuttgart keeper. Just prior to this Stuttgart thought they had taken the lead when substitute Tomasson put the ball, having been put through by Tiffert, in the net, but, for the 14th time in the game, referee Wolfgang Stark blew for off-side much to the frustration of the home fans.
Tragic highlight: Reinke suffers concussion and several breaks
The game didn't produce any goals but there was to a tragic highlight. Andreas reinke came racing from his goal to smoother a through ball which Martin Stranzl was also equally determined to catch The VfB striker lost his footing and collided with the keeper at full pace, his knee connecting heavily with Reinkes face. The blood drenched keeper was taken to hospital with the diagnosis, concussion and several breaks. Tim Weise made his Bundesliga debut in Werder colours and kept a clean sheet although VfB did have the ball in the net for a second time but the referee saw a climbing infringement by Soldo and the home side were once again denied (90'). It was the visitors who had the last chance of the game. Owomoyela put a cross on the head of Valdez but again Hildebrand was equal to the task.
