All square in our Bundesliga opener

SVW share the points with Wolfsburg in their first game of the 2022/23 season

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Werder came away with a draw despite some great chances (Photo: W.DE).

Match Report

Saturday, 06.08.2022 / 18:00

After an enthralling Bundesliga opener against Wolfsburg, 2-2 (1-2) was the final score at the Volkswagen Arena. The first half was full of intensity. Werder needed only a few seconds for their first attack. However, Marvin Ducksch couldn’t find the net. Down the other end, Nmecha (11’) used Wolfsburg’s first chance to put them into the lead. Niclas Füllkrug (21’) brought Werder level just ten minutes later, and Leonardo Bittencourt (23’) put them 2-1 ahead just moments after. For the rest of the half, SVW were clearly the better team, but were unable to build on their lead. In the second half, Wolfsburg came into the game more and made it all-square through Guilavogui (84’). The standard remained high for both sides and so SVW and VfL Wolfsburg parted with a point each.

Squad news: Newcomer Jens Stage found himself in the starting eleven for the first time. Unlike the Dane, fellow newcomer Lee Buchanan had to settle for a place on the bench. Niklas Stark, who missed the cup match through illness, was in the squad. The new signing featured on the bench alongside Nick Woltemade, who also made the matchday squad. Fabio Chiarodia is travelling with Italy U19s and so was unavailable again.

Starting line-up: Pavlenka – Jung, Pieper, Stage, Ducksch, Weiser, Bittencourt, Füllkrug, Veljkovic, Friedl und Groß.

Bench: Zetterer – Stark, Burke, Schmidt, Rapp, Buchanan, Agu, Gruev und Woltemade.

An intense first half

Füllkrug scored Werder's first goal of the season (Foto: W.DE).

Highlights from the first half:

1st minute: Ducksch is about to strike but the ball goes out of bounds. After just a few seconds, Füllkrug crosses into the box but narrowly misses Ducksch! What a start!

11th minute: The Wolves put away their first chance. Lukas Nmecha scores for VfL Wolfsburg to make it 1-0.

19th minute: After a dangerous cross from Marmoush, Nmecha puts it just wide! That was close!

21st minute: GOAAAAAL! Niclas Füllkrug shoots and the ball rockets into the net! All square at 1-1!

23rd minute: AND WE’RE IN THE LEAD! Bittencourt meets the cross of Marvin Ducksch and gives Werder a 2-1 lead!

37th minute: Amos Pieper plays a long ball up to Marvin Ducksch, who lays it directly into the path of Füllkrug. The shot is centimetres wide!

An even second half

Marvin Ducksch created chances for his teammates (Photo: nordphoto).

Highlights from the second half:

65th minute: Mitchell Weiser plays a brilliant pass to Leonardo Bittencourt but Werder’s number 10 cannot find a way past the keeper!

66th minute: This time Marvin Ducksch tries from long-range. Keeper Casteels is well off his line but Ducksch’s shot is not high enough.

68th minute: Wolfsburg’s Kaminiski is through one-on-one with only Pavlenka to beat, but the Werder keeper makes a fantastic block. A very important save!

80th minute: Niclas Füllkrug takes a hit to the thigh and has to be substituted. He is replaced by debutant Oliver Burke.

84th minute: Guilavogui is left unmarked at a free-kick and slots into the bottom corner to make it 2-2

89th minute: Marvin Ducksch fires inches wide of the Wolfsburg goal. What a chance!

90+3 minutes: Stage puts the ball back into the box from a final Werder corner but Buchanan can only head into the arms of Casteels.

90+4 minutes: The final whistle goes in Wolfsburg. The Bundesliga opener finishes 2-2!

Summary: It was an action-packed opener in the Volkswagen Arena. Werder were the better side in the first half, but Wolfsburg were able to make the most of their few chances and secure a draw. In the second half, both sides were ambitious and, in the end, were fairly rewarded with a 2-2 draw.