SV Werder Bremen opened the 2. Bundesliga season with a point at home, following a 1-1 draw against Hannover 96. After a back and forth first half, captain Ömer Toprak headed the Green-Whites into the lead (49’). Minutes later, the visitors were able to equalise through Marvin Ducksch (55’).
Starting XI and formation: Head coach Markus Anfang went with the same 4-1-4-1 formation he’d sent out in previous games during pre-season, looking to play down the wings. Anfang was without six players, and also had to adjust after Kevin Möhwald was a last minute scratch.
Starting XI: Zetterer – Jung, Osako, Füllkrug, Sargent, Toprak, Schmidt, Mai, Agu, Mbom M. Eggestein.
Subs: Dos Santos-Haesler – Badjie, Schmid, J. Eggestein, Park, Gruev, Woltemade, Friedl and Groß.
Match highlights:
9th min.: The first chance of the game falls to the Green-Whites. Josh Sargent is unmarked on the right wing and is able to find Yuya Osako. His shot is parried away for a corner by Hannover goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler.
13th min.: Two quick chances for Hannover. Marvin Ducksch is wide open at the far post after a corner, but misses the ball. The guests are able to have another attempt from a corner, but Werder are able to block the shot.
17th min.: Ducksch’s header misses the target.
25th min.: Muslija hits the crossbar after a long-range attempt. Phew!
28th min.: Josh Sargent is free on the right wing once again after a pass from Niclas Füllkrug. Sargent plays through to Yuya Osako, but his first time shot is saved by Ron-Robert Zieler.
36th min.: Werder lose possession, but a strong tackle from Mbom is able to break up a Hannover counter-attack..
45th +3 min.: After a back and forth first half, the two teams head into the dressing room deadlocked at 0-0.
47th min.: Werder get off to an energetic start after the change of ends. Niklas Schmidt gets on the end of a cross but his shot hits the side-netting. But, it wouldn’t have counted had it gone in, as Yuya Osako handled the ball in the build-up.
49th min.: Werder open the scoring! Ömer Toprak heads home off a corner. The goal would later go down as an own goal by Hannover's Falette.
53rd min.: Hannover come close, but the post is there to keep our Ducksch’s shot.
55th min.: Equaliser for the guests. Murova plays a deep ball to Ducksch, who chips it over Zetterer to draw level.
73rd min.: Ducksch is a constant threat in front of the Werder goal, as Hannover search for another goal.
83rd min.: Another close call for Werder, as Ducksch narrowly misses the target.
84th min.: Zetterer comes up with a big save to deny Ducksch from close range.
90th +4 min.: SV Werder Bremen and Hannover 96 open the season with a 1-1 draw and a point apiece.
Match summary: After an evenly-match first half in which both teams attacked often and created several chances for themselves, the score remained deadlocked at 0-0 going into the break. Werder started well into the second half and recorded two quick chances before Ömer Toprak was able to head home a corner to open the scoring. Minutes later, the visitors would equalise. Hannover had the better chances in the closing minutes of the game, but in the end, it remained tied at one goal apiece.
