In the last Bundesliga game of 2016, Werder Bremen drew deservedly 1-1 with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, in front of 29,000 spectators at the Rhein-Necktar-Arena. The Green-Whites went into the break behind, as former SVW striker scored against his old club in the 26th minute. However, Werder saved a point with just four minutes to go as Santi García set up Serge Gnabry, to make sure Werder didn’t return to Bremen empty handed.
Line-up: Alexander Nouri had already hinted at it, and in Sinsheim Werder’s head coach deployed a back three from the first minute for the first time. Veljkovic, Moisander and Sané made up the defence, with Bauer occupying the right wing-back role and Santiago García on the opposite flank. Clemens Fritz had to sit out of this one with back problems so Zlatko Junuzovic partnered Bargfrede in the centre of the park. Kruse, Gnabry and Pizarro provided SVW’s attacking threat up front.
The highlights:
13th minute: Uth miss-hits a clearance and the ball balloons up in the air, landing on Baumann’s crossbar and going out for a corner. Bauer heads the resulting corner to Pizarro in a shooting position, but the ball is bouncing and the Peruvian fires over from a tough angle.
20th minute: Overall, it has been a very balanced first 20 minutes.
26th minute: Goal, Hoffenheim lead 1-0 through Sandro Wagner. It’s a goal out of nothing. The Werder defence clear a corner but TSG regain the ball straight away. The ball is put back into the box from the right and it seems to be going right into Drobny’s grasp, however, Sandro Wagner gets a toe ahead of the SVW goalkeeper and pokes the ball in.
29th minute: Serge Gnabry tries his luck from distance, but his left-footed shot goes just over.
34th minute: An amazing save from Drobny! Demirbay receives the ball in space in the Green-White box and hits it first time, but the Werder no. 1 pulls off a great reflex save to keep the score 1-0.
39th minute: Vogt doesn’t clear the ball out of the TSG area and Pizarro strikes from a tight angle - the ball goes wide.
45th minute: Referee Cortus blows for half time.
46th minute: Nouri makes a change at half time as Bargfrede goes off with an Achilles problem to be replaced by Fin Bartels. The Green-Whites now change to a 4-4-2 system.
58th minute: A good chance. The ball comes to Bartels on the edge of the box but his curling effort hasn’t got enough power on it to beat Baumann.
65th minute: Drobny pulls off another incredible save – this time on Toljan. The Werder keeper makes himself huge in the one-on-one and blocks the ball with an outstretched leg.
75th minute: Amiri on the right is in space, he finds Kramaric in the Werder area and Drobny doesn’t claim the ball ahead of the TSG striker. However, he can’t capitalise on the chance and only finds the side netting with his shot.
81st minute: Werder’s best chance of the game. Kruse fires the ball across the face of goal but there’s too much power on his cross and Gnabry can't get on the end of it.
86th minute: GOOOOAAAAALLL!! Werder equalise and it’s Serge Gnabry again away from home! García find the Germany U21 international with an accurate low pass into the box, and the SVW winger side-foots the ball powerfully past Baumann!
88th minute: Is there more in the game for Bremen? Kruse stars a quick counter and finds Bartels in a good position on the right, but the substitute can’t direct his shot on target.
92nd minute: Full time in Sinsheim. Werder take a point back to Bremen – great effort, boys!
Summary: Alexander Nouri’s tactical change worked well for the most part in the first half, as, even though Werder sometimes lacked something going forwards, looked solid at the back, stopping an impressive Hoffenheim team who are yet to lose this season. In the second half, Bartels was bough on for Bargfrede who picked up a knock, and Werder changed to a 4-4-2. They did look more dangerous as a result of this and fully deserved a draw, putting up a fight against the third-placed side and finding a late equaliser.
