Away win! Werder put on a great performance and deserved to win 1-0 away at third-placed Hertha BSC on Saturday evening. Just like he did in Ingolstadt, Max Kruse scored the first goal for Werder. Before the game, Hertha had won all of their previous six home matches at the Olympia-Stadion this season, while Werder have now won their last two games in a row. What's more, the Green-Whites kept a clean sheet for the first time this season!
Line-up: Head coach Alexander Nouri made a few changes to the starting eleven that faced Ingolstadt last weekend. Captain Clemens Fritz replaced Zlatko Junuzovic in the starting eleven, with the Austrian starting on the bench after recovering from a cold earlier this week. Drobny looked unlikely to feature against Hertha earlier this week, however the Werder number one lined up between the sticks. Nouri chose a starting eleven with a lot of Bundesliga experience, as Drobny, Fritz and Claudio Pizarro, who were all deployed from the first minute, are all 36 or over.
Highlights
2nd minute: The hosts start as the more attacking team. Esswein puts a good cross in from the right-hand side. Hertha captain Ibisevic is lurking on the penalty spot but Sané gets a decisive block in.
15th minute: There has been a quarter of an hour of play and it is clear what tactics each team is adopting. Hertha have more possession and are happy to pass the ball around. Werder in contrast predominantly try to play long balls out of a compact defence but they must be patient in terms of creating their own chances.
29th minute: Kruse with the first effort for the Green-Whites. Lustenberger’s clearance is blocked by the 28-year-old. He reacts quicker than the Berlin defender and hits it first time from 25 metres out. His shot however goes flies wide of Jarstein’s post.
36th minute: Werder are at it again! The ball goes over Bartels to Pizarro who turns with the ball at his feet and has a go from a few meters out. Jarstein parries it away, Kruse gets the rebound but it goes over the bar. Bartels has an effort just one minute later but his left-footed strike does little to trouble Hertha’s keeper.
41st minute: GOOAAL, 1-0 to Werder, MAX KRUSE! Hertha are happy to play it around their own penalty area before Bargfrede starts to lead a press by Werder. Kruse gambles perfectly and nicks the ball after a poor pass. He finishes the one-on-one clinically.
45th minute: Half time! Werder head into the dressing room with a narrow lead and were lucky beforehand that Ibisevic did not equalise for the home side. His shot hit the post.
60th minute: Gnabry has a go from long range! Kruse puts Gnabry through but his shot flies just a few metres wide!
65th minute: Kalou tries his luck from about 20 yards out but Drobny punches the ball over the crossbar for a corner! What a save!
67th minute: Pizarro puts Gnabry through, the forward didn’t think twice about having a shot. However, his shot goes wide again.
70th minute: Another chance! Pizarro crosses the ball into Garcia who can’t direct his header on target.
77th minute: Hertha attack on the counter and Stocker tries to place the ball into the far corner. Drobny gets down well to parry the ball out for a corner!
79th minute: Gnabry is one-on-one with Jarstein but the Hertha goalkeeper parries his shot wide and prevents Werder from taking a 2-0 lead.
86th minute: Stocker passes to Ibisevic who comes close to getting the equaliser! Werder just have to hold on for a few more minutes!
90+2 minute: FINAL WHISTLE! A deserved win for Werder away at Hertha BSC! Three important points!
Summary: The fans had to wait around 30 minutes until the game got into full swing. After concentrating on defending solidly, SVW grew into the game and started to create chances, while Hertha were finding it tough to break down the Green-White defence. SVW made the breakthrough as Werder’s pressing caused a mistake at the back, which Kruse profited from. He intercepted a pass on the edge of the BSC area and was immediately in on goal, finishing coolly. In the second half, the visitors created numerous good chances on the break but couldn’t make the most of any. However, Nouri’s men can definitely look back on a great, disciplined performance and travel back to Bremen with three well-deserved points in the bag.
