Werder lost their opening Dresden Cup fixture 1-0 to Real
Betis on Friday night. The only goal of the game was scored by Matías Nahuel after
the break. Viktor Skripnik stated that “the players did well against a side who
are very good on the ball, but we need to improve in some areas still.”
Line-up and formation: Felix Wiedwald started between the sticks. Niklas Moisander, Luca Caldirola, Leon Guwara and Theodor Gebre Selassie made up the back four, with Lukas Fröde operating in holding midfield. Claudio Pizarro played up front, with support offered by Fin Bartels, Zlatko Junuzovic, Clemens Fritz and Sambou Yatabaré.
11th Minute: Betis have the game’s first chance. A deep corner landed at the feet of Fabián Ruiz. The 20-year-old did well to create a chance for himself, but fired his powerful shot over the bar.
21st Minute: Lukas Fröde’s foul gives Betis a free kick on the edge of the box but the resulting effort sails into the crowd.
36th Minute: Fin Bartels bursts into the box but gets the ball taken off him just as he’s about to fire an effort in on goal.
54th Minute: Claudio Pizarro creates a chance for Fröde, but the youngster’s shot is deflected behind for a corner.
55th Minute: Pizarro flicks a header over the bar from the subsequent corner. Werder’s best chance of the game so far.
67th Minute: Betis lead! Matías Nahuel fires home with aplomb from inside the box. He appeared to be offside, but the assistant’s flag stayed down.
80th Minute: Maxi Eggestein, Thanos Petsos and Ulli Garica come on in the hope of forcing an equaliser.
Summary: Neither side created chances before the break. Werder impressed in the second period but it was Real Betis who came out on top.
Werder Bremen: Wiedwald - Guwara (70’ Sternberg), Moisander (46’ Diagne), Caldirola, Gebre Selassie - Fröde (80’ U. Garcia) - Bartels (70’ Hajrovic), Junuzovic (80’ Petsos), Fritz (80’ M. Eggestein), Yatabare (46’ Kainz) - Pizarro (70’ J. Eggestein)
Real Betis Sevilla: Gimènez - Martinez, Bruno, Ramirez, Navarro - Hinojosa, Ruiz - Musonda, Ceballos, Nahuel - Alegria
Goals: 0-1 Nahuel (67’)
Bookings: Fritz (27’), Caldirola (40’), Hajrovic (76’) / Nahuel (9’), Cejudo (76’)
