SV Werder Bremen had to settle for a point against Hannover 96 in their first Bundesliga game of the season. After a first half during which both defences were on top, both teams started to get more attacking in the second. Hannover forward Hendrik Weydandt scored the first goal of the season in the Weserstadion, before Theodor Gebre Selassie’s header leveled things up.
Line-up and formation: Florian Kohfeldt once again opted for a 4-3-3 formation, naming the same starting XI that faced Worms in the DFB-Pokal. Gebre Selassie, Veljkovic, Moisander and Augustinsson lined up in front of Pavlenka in goal. Philipp Bargfrede, Davy Klaassen and Maximilian Eggestein made up the midfield, with Kainz, Kruse and Osako ahead of them.
Key moments
9 mins: Eggestein picks up the ball on the right-hand side and almost picks out Davy Klaassen in the middle. The corner comes in dangerously but Esser is there for Hannover.
16 mins: Chance for Veljkovic! The Serb was inches away from making contact with a free kick from the edge of the six-yard box.
20 mins: A chance for Hannover. Pirmin Schwegler has a shot but it’s expertly blocked by a SVW defender.
24 mins: Another chance for Werder! Klaassen plays a one-two with Gebre Selassie before finding Osako, who gets to the by-line but can only find a Hannover defender in the middle. An offside is given, so any goal wouldn’t have counted.
27 mins: Chance for Hannover as Sorg finds space on the right. His shot is deflected and whistles just past Pavlenka’s post!
28 mins: Another chance for the away side as Maina plays the ball through to Bebou, but Pavlenka saves.
37 mins: Gebre Selassie wins a corner for Werder. Kainz puts in another good ball and two Hannover players jump with two SVW players to win the ball. The ball seems to strike Sorg on the hand, but nothing is given.
39 mins: Kainz shifts the ball onto his right foot and shoots, but Esser holds onto the ball well.
45 mins: The away side have another chance just before the break. Gebre Selassie only half clears Sorg’s cross and Hannover win a corner. Niclas Fülkrug is completely unmarked and his header hits the hand of Maxi Eggestein. Again, the referee gets it right and waves play on.
45 mins: Half time in the Weserstadion. Both sides have been solid defensively. Werder had the better chances in the opening half an hour, but Hannover since look to have settled into the game, also coming close on occasions.
47 mins: Former Bremen striker Niclas Füllkrug is quicker than Bargfrede and shoots from around 20 yards out, but the ball goes wide of the post.
48 mins: What a chance for Werder! Eggestein holds the ball up well with his back to goal on the edge of the penalty area before playing it over his head to Klaassen. The midfielder tees up Augustinsson, who hits a volley that shoots just past the post!
52 mins: Bad news as the captain goes off injured. Kruse limps off the pitch and goes straight down the tunnel. Rashica takes his place, playing on the right of the front three with Osako now leading the line.
56 mins: Osako with a chance! Klaassen heads the ball down to our new signing, whose left-footed shot goes wide from a tight angle.
62 mins: Füllkrug gets past Augustinsson with a quick burst of pace and shoots left-footed. The visitors’ captain, Anton, almost scores from the resulting corner!
67 mins: Claudio Pizarro comes on for the final 25 minutes, replacing Florian Kainz!
69 mins: A cross comes to Pizarro straight away but he puts his effort over the bar.
71 mins: Another chance for Piza! Augustinsson crosses from the left but the 39-year-old can’t quite get enough contact with the ball.
76 mins: Pizarro again! He connects with another cross but his header goes just over the bar.
76 mins: Goal for Hannover – Hendrik Weydandt. 0-1. Hannover take the lead on the counter. Bebou dinks the ball over the top and Weydandt takes his time before finishing through the legs of the onrushing Pavlenka.
81 mins: Werder are on the search for an equaliser, but Rashica’s shot is blocked.
82 mins: Final roll of the dice from Kohfeldt, who brings on Jojo Eggestein for Philipp Bargfrede.
85 mins: GOAL for Werder – Theodor Gebre Selassie! 1-1. Augustinsson crosses from the left yet again and, after Pizarro can’t quite get to the ball, Gebre Selassie in on hand to nod in the equaliser!
90 mins: Piza has another chance! The striker heads over again, this time from Osako’s cross.
90+3 mins: Jojo Eggestein has a chance from Rashica’s cross but Hannover hang on!
90+3 mins: Full time in the Weserstadion!
Summary: An entertaining game in the second half that had two late goals. Gebre Selassie leveled the scores after Hendrik Weydandt’s opener. Substitute Claudio Pizarro put a lot of pressure on the Hannover defence when he came on, and Jojo Eggestein had a chance to win the game in the final seconds, but Werder couldn’t find a winner.
Maximilian Eggestein: “We couldn't quite find the killer pass in the first half, but we were better after the break. We'll have to live with a point."
Davy Klaassen: “We shouldn’t have conceded like we did. It was a stupid ball and we ended up going behind.”
Florian Kohfeldt: “We want to win our home games, so we’re not pleased with the result today.”
Werder Bremen: Pavlenka , Gebre Selassie, Veljkovic, Moisander, Augustinsson, Bargfrede (82‘ J. Eggestein), M. Eggestein, Klaassen , Kruse (52‘ Rashica), Kainz (67‘ Pizarro), Osako
Hannover 96: Esser, Sorg, Anton, Wimmer, Ostrzolek, Walace, Schwegler (55‘ Bakalorz), Bebou, Maina (61‘ Haraguchi), Asano (75‘ Weydandt), Füllkrug
Referee: Dr. Felix Brych
Goals: 0-1 Weydandt (76‘), 1-1 Gebre Selassie (85‘)
Attendance: 42,100 (sold out)
