The Green-Whites threw everything including the kitchen sink at it, but in the end couldn’t find a way back against FC Bayern after going two-goals behind. In front of 42,100 spectators, SVW stood up to the current Bundesliga leaders and lost narrowly 2-1. Arjen Robben (30’) and David Alaba (45+1’) gave the visitors a 2-0 lead heading into the break, while Max Kruse gave his side hope of a comeback with a goal in the 53rd minute. Despite a great effort, it just wasn’t to be for Nouri’s men.
Line-up: Felix Wiedwald stepped in for the suspended Jaroslav Drobny, as head coach Alexander Nouri stuck with a back-three system against the record champions. However, there were some changes in personnel as wide man Fin Bartels started on the bench as he was suffering from a cold. Therefore, Robert Bauer was deployed in the right wing-back position, with Milos Veljkovic, Lamine Sané and Niklas Moisander completing the back-three. Clemens Fritz missed out with neck problems and was replaced by Zlatko Junuzovic, as the Austrian also wore the captain’s armband in his 150th Bundesliga appearance.
The highlights:
5th minute: Wiedwald is called into action for the first time to save a Franck Ribery effort at the near post, after the Frenchman cut in from the left to fire at goal. The Werder keeps deals with it routinely though.
19th minute: Werder have started courageously, but are forced into an early substitution as Claudio Pizarro picks up a thigh injury. Maximilian Eggestein is brought on in his place.
27th minute: Max Kruse leads a Werder counter attack and feeds in Serge Gnabry perfectly on the right. The winger tries his luck from 20 yards but can’t trouble the Germany and Bayern No. 1 Manuel Neuer.
30th minute: Goal, FC Bayern lead 1-0 through Arjen Robben. Ribery plays the ball flat along the floor across the edge of the box. The Dutchman reacts more quickly than his marker Santiago García to fire the ball with his left foot into the top corner.
41st minute: The ten minutes after the Bayern goal haven’t flowed as well as the start of the match, as the game is being broken up by fouls from either side.
46th minute: Goal, David Alaba doubles the visitors’ lead. Just when you don’t want to concede, Austrian Alaba curls in a direct free kick from the right hand side of the box. The ball clips the post on the way in – nothing Wiedwald could have done.
52nd minute: Werder certainly haven’t thrown in the towel. Kruse makes his way past Lahm and pokes the ball to Gnabry who turns and slices the ball wide.
53rd minute: GOOOAAALL! Max Kruse pulls one back! Junuzovic plays Kruse in with a pin-point pass. Werder's No. 10 shows some good footwork to deceive Alaba and finish past Neuer!
66th minute: The Green-Whites are proving to be more than a match for Bayern as they search for an equaliser.
69th minute: Martinez doesn’t head the ball clear and Eggestein rises higher than Kimmich on the edge of the box to find Kruse on the left with his head. The goalscorer takes on the shot first time and volleys just wide from a tight angle.
81st minute: Nouri has done everything to try and find a second goal, making attacking changes in Bartels and Kainz, but no luck so far.
87th minute: “WERDER, WERDER, WERDER!” The atmosphere at the Weser-Stadion is electric, as the Green-White fans get right behind the team!
91st minute: Wiedwald is called into action late on, he saves a close-range Kimmich effort with his feet.
93rd minute: The final whistle. It just wasn’t to be for the lads tonight, as they leave empty handed despite a top performance.
Summary: Werder weren’t just solid at the back and defensively minded, but looked dangerous on the break in the first half and brought the game to the record champions in the second. The Green-Whites were unlucky to go into the break two goals down and whoever though Nouri’s men would just give in was mistaken. Werder struck back early in the second period through Max Kruse and impressed with an adventurous performance in front of their roaring home fans. There was however no happy ending for SVW, as Bayern held on to their one-goal advantage to take all three points back to Munich.
