Werder Bremen had to settle for a single point on the seventh match day of the Bundesliga season. Thomas Schaaf’s men drew 1:1 (0:0) with VfL Wolfsburg in the Tuesday night game.
Werder Bremen had to settle for a single point on the seventh match day of the Bundesliga season. Thomas Schaaf’s men drew 1:1 (0:0) with VfL Wolfsburg in the Tuesday night game.
Werder Bremen had to settle for a single point on the seventh match day of the Bundesliga season. Thomas Schaaf’s men drew 1:1 (0:0) with VfL Wolfsburg in the Tuesday night game. Diego put the Green-Whites in front but had his lead goal (48’) cancelled out by fellow Brazilian Josue in the 66th minute.
Harnik replaces ‘Baumi’
Following the injury to captain Frank Baumann (torn knee ligaments) during last weekend’s 4:1 win over VfB Stuttgart, trainer Thomas Schaaf was once again to adjust his starting eleven. Martin Harnik filled in on the right side of midfield with Daniel Jensen retreating to the ‘Baumi’ position in front of the back four whilst Per Mertesacker took the responsibility of wearing the captains armband.
Werder, who due to boasting the same home colours as VfL Wolfsburg, opted to wear their new sky blue jerseys for the first time, saw the hosts put on the early pressure. Jacek Krzynowek once again showed just how dangerous he can be when allowed to shoot with his powerful left boot. The Polish midfielder hammered a Marcelinho corner against the outside of the post – Werder with luck on their side.
Jentzsch stop Diego
Four minutes later though the luck wasn’t quite on Werder’s side. Jurica Vranjes poked a pass through to Diego but the VfL keeper Simon Jentzsch did well to parry the Brazilian’s left footed strike. The following period was proof that neither side were completely on top of their game with the match often being interrupted by niggly fouls and simple mistakes. The home team had the better of the play and spent more time in the oppositions danger zone but profited often from Werder’s mistakes rather than the quality of their own play, just as in the 18th minute when Vranjes presented Grafite with the ball but the Brazilian sliced his shot wide. The new signing set up Marcelinho in the 29th minute and was denied himself ten minutes later by Tim Wiese.
The visitors had a couple of chances of their own in the first period. Simon jentzsch had problems dealing with a Naldo free-kick (36’) and Martin harnik failed to make a clean connection with a delivery from Diego and headed over the bar with the goal at his mercy (39’).
Diego strides forth unstoppably
At half time, Peter Niemeyer replaced Martin Harnik, who hadn’t had the best night, in the midfield and the ex-Under 21 was immediately involved in the first goal of the game. Diego took on Niemeyer’s pass and went on a mazy run, leaving three defenders in his wake before testing Jentzsch with a poked shot. The keeper couldn’t hold on to the ball and the Brazilian playmaker had carried on his run and was able to slot the loose ball past the keeper to give the guests the lead (48’).
With the lead in place, Thomas Schaaf’s men began to look more settled on the ball and controlled the next phase of the game but produced less going forward. The home side again and again broke into the Werder box but found themselves unable to penetrate the central duo of Merteacker and Naldo – until the 66th minute when Marcelinho and Dzeko combined to set up Josue who shot past the advancing Wiese with the outside of his boot to level the scoring – 1:1.
The final twenty minutes offered little by the way of attacking options despite the efforts of both teams. The hosts had the best opportunities but Grafite proved wasteful too often. In a final move to force the issue and add another option up front, Thomas Schaaf brought Markus Rosenberg for Hugo Almeida but the Swede could do little to alter the scoreline and the game finished at loggerheads.
Johnnie Muldoon
VfL Wolfsburg - Werder Bremen 1:1
VfL Wolfsburg: Jentzsch - Riether, Simunek, Thiam, Madlung - Josué, Quiroga - Dejagah, Marcelinho (85' Munteanu), Krzynowek (64' Dzeko) - Grafite
Werder Bremen: Wiese - Pasanen, Mertesacker, Naldo, Tosic - Jensen, Vranjes - Diego (87' Schindler), Harnik (46' Niemeyer) - Sanogo, Almeida (72' Rosenberg); auf der Bank: Vander, Artmann, Mosquera, Kruse
Goals: 0:1 (48') Diego, 1:1 (66') Josue
Referee: Gräfe (Berlin)
Attendance: Volkswagen Arena: 24.000
Yellow cards: Madlung, Grafite
