+++ Not only did Claudio Pizarro earn the victory in Leverkusen virtually all by himself, but he was also able to celebrate a personal triumph. With the goals against the Werkself he got his tenth hat-trick of his career. He has done this six times in the Bundesliga, five of which while wearing a Werder kit. His first came in September 1999, when he scored three in a 7-2 victory against Wolfsburg. +++
WERDER.DE dedicate this piece to Pizarro, his history with Werder and, most importantly, his goals.
+++ Cool and clinical from the spot this season: The Peruvian striker has got the better of his nerves so far and scored every penalty that he has taken this season. He has scored all nine penalties that he has taken for the Green-Whites. +++
+++ Souvenir: After the final whistle, Pizarro snatched the match ball and held it tight. "I got a hat-trick so the ball is mine to take. My kids will love it," gloated the goalscorer." +++
+++ Unbelievable record: The Peruvian has been a well-lubricated goal machine of late, just scoring and scoring and scoring. In his last ten games he has netted eleven times. "It was hard for me in the first half of the season. I hadn’t had much real preparation with the team and wasn’t 100% fit. I’m feeling better and better as I go now," said Pizarro. +++
+++ Praise all round: Due to his excellent performance, Pizarro was honoured after his performance. On the official club website he was voted man of the match, winning 58% of the vote. He was also put in team of week by kicker, Sportschau and other German sport reporters. +++
+++ Scorer and record breaker: With his goals in Leverkusen, Pizarro is now the oldest player to have scored a hat-trick in the Bundesliga, overtaking former Werder player Manfred Burgsmüller. +++
+++ Nearly there: With his 97th, 98th and 99th goals for Werder Bremen, Pizarro has now jumped up in the table of the club’s all-time top goalscorers. Before the game, Rudi Völler and Frank Neubarthsat joint second on the list with 97 goals, but Pizarro equaled and then exceeded this number. He is now just two goals behind the all-time leader, Marco Bode, who scored 101 goals for Bremen. "I know that there are only two goals in it now. Sorry Marco, but I am going to break your record," said the foreign player with the most Bundesliga goals ever. Should he get another hat-trick, he will be top… +++
