Despite an impressive performance, Werder Bremen suffered a 2:1 loss to Real Madrid at the ‘Estadio Santiago Bernabéu’...
Despite an impressive performance, Werder Bremen suffered a 2:1 loss to Real Madrid at the ‘Estadio Santiago Bernabéu’...
Despite an impressive performance, Werder Bremen suffered a 2:1 loss to Real Madrid at the ‘Estadio Santiago Bernabéu’. The hosts took the lead through Raúl after 16 minutes but just 93 seconds later the Green-Whites were back on level terms thanks to Boubacar Sanogo. After the brak, the German’s were over long periods the better side, driven on by another strong performance by playmaker Diego, but failed to make use of the numerous chances created. Real, on the other hand, proved more effective and took the lead again through Ruud van Nistlerooy (74’). The goal was to issue the knock-out blow for Thomas Schaaf’s men, who could find no answer to Real’s second.
Werder start nervously but comfortably
Following last Friday evenings 3:0 thrashing by Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, Werder coach Thomas Schaaf made just one change to his starting eleven with Swede Markus Rosenberg getting the nod ahead of Hugo Almeida up front alongside Boubacar Sanogo. Bernd Schuster made a number of changes to the Real side which beat Almeria 3:1 at the weekend with Marcelo replacing the injured Gabriel Heinze, Gago coming in for Diarra and striker Ruud van Nistlerooy, who sat out Saturday’s game on the bench, started for Javier Saviola. The Spaniards attempt to attack early proved ineffective. Werder looked somewhat nervous but steady at the back in a very impressive surrounding. The first real chance of the game fell to the home side just after the quarter hour mark and they were ice-cold in finishing. Van Nistlerooy had pulled out to the edge of the penalty area and was allowed to cross, without a challenge, to the centre where Raúl stooped in ahead of Naldo to head into the narrow corner past Tim Wiese (16’). The visitors didn’t at all show a reaction to the set back but instead launched an attack of their own with Diego picking out Dusko Tosic breaking down the left. The Serbian full-back swung a cross into the centre and Boubacar Sanogo got ahead of Christoph Metzelder to toe poke the ball past keeper Casillas to put Werder back on level terms just 93 seconds after having fallen behind (17’).
One chance for Werder, four for Madrid
The home side appeared more affected by conceding than the visitors had and Casillas was forced to make a good save with his foot as Rosenberg turned a Diego delivery goalwards (24’). A minute later the wee Brazilian tried his luck from distance but pulled his shot way off the mark. At the other end, the Real attack began slowly but surely to rise to the occasion Higuain found van Nistelrooy in the centre and the Dutch striker hit the outside netting with his shot on the turn (28’). Bernd Schuster were proving more and more successful down the left but high crosses into the centre were not a problem for Werder’s lofty central defenders to deal with.
The home side began to increase the pressure and by the closing phase of the first half, Madrid were beginning to look consistently dangerous Mertesacker made a last minute challenge to take the ball off van Nistelrooy’s foot (33’) and Higuain got in a well driven right footed effort which just eluded the far post (36’). Mertesacker was involved again, combining with Naldo to deny van Nistelrooy the chance to slide the ball into an empty net after a pass from Raúl (38’). Iker casillas wasn’t completely without work to do either. The Real keeper first had to save from Rosenberg, who had jinked past Cannavaro to get a shot in (37’) before Daniel Jensen hammered a shot on goal that the keeper was forced to stretch to turn away (42’).
No luck for busy Diego
Werder came out for the second half full of running and took control of proceedings. In particular Diego turned on the style and the Brazilian again and again caused problems for the Madrid defence. The first examples were crosses to first Sanogo (blocked) and then Jensen (volleyed over) which were wasted. The next example was a delivery with the outside of his boot which just ran away from Sanogo (51’). A third and stunning example was a wonderful solo against six opposing players which the playmaker then laid out to Vranjes who swung wildly and miscued his shot to waste a very good chance. Real had little to offer during this period and the star ensemble from Bernd Schuster looked harmless with one of the most potent providers, Wesley Sneijder being taken out of the game by close man marking.
Just as in the first half, the home side were patient and steadily built the pressure, often looking to use the direct route through the centre. Tim Wiese was able to deal with an attempted lob by Raúl (68’). Five minutes later the keeper was forced to make a strong save from van Nistelrooy. Werder substitute Hugo Almeida was too quick to whip in shots rather than slow the game down and the lack of concentration was to be punished. Guti played to Raúl in the centre and the striker controlled the ball well before laying off for his strike partner van Nistelrooy who buried past Tim Wiese to put Madrid back in the driving seat (74’).
The Green-Whites efforts had all be in vain and with the game approaching its close, the German side had now little more to offer. Almeida again rushed a couple of shots and Petri Pasanen failed to test Casillas with a free-kick. At the far end, substitute Drenthe was stopped from increasing the Real lead by the reactions of Tim Wiese (86’). Robinho could have also made it 3:1 but fluffed a pass from Sneijder (89’). Despite a generally deserved defeat, Werder appeared to have shaken off the performance against Dortmund to show they are capable of playing a roll in Champions League Group C and have a chance of progressing to the second round.
Johnnie Muldoon
Real Madrid - Werder Bremen 2:1
Real Madrid: Casillas – Sergio Ramos, Metzelder, Cannavaro, Marcelo – Gago, Higuain (69. Robinho), Sneijder, Guti (77. Drenthe) – Raúl (84. Robben), van Nistelrooy
Werder Bremen: Wiese – Pasanen, Mertesacker, Naldo, Tošić – Baumann, Vranjes, Jensen, Diego – Sanogo, Rosenberg (69. Hugo Almeida)
Goals: 1:0 Raúl (16'), 1:1 Sanogo (17'), 2:1 van Nistelrooy (74')
Referee: Howard Webb (England)
Attendance: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu: 80.000
Yellow cards: van Nistelrooy – Vranjes, Diego
