SV Werder Bremen were held to a 2-2 draw by VfB Stuttgart on Saturday afternoon, despite taking the lead twice. A sold-out crowd of 42,100 at the Weserstadion saw as goals from Justin Njinmah (6') and Jens Stage (77') were both cancelled out by Ermedin Demirović (20', 85').
Line-up and formation: Head coach Ole Werner made one change from last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, with Justin Njinmah replacing Marco Grüll. The Green-Whites were without Keke Topp (ankle injury) and Felix Agu (knock to the knee). Jens Stage was able to return to the matchday squad as a substitute.
Starting line-up: Zetterer - Stark, Ducksch, Weiser, Bittencourt, Njinmah, Veljkovic, Lynen, Köhn, Schmid und Friedl.
Bench: Backhaus - Deman, Jung, Pieper, Stage, Burke, Grüll, Malatini und Alvero.
First-half highlights:
6th minute: Werder lead! Schmid sends Ducksch down the right flank, as our number 7 manages to deliver a perfect cross into the centre of the box. Njinmah is able to meet it perfectly, heading the ball past Nübel to open the scoring.
12th minute: Führich dribbles down the touchline, but Friedl is able to get back in time and clear the ball out of immediate danger for a VfB corner.
20th minute: VfB equalise. Mittelstädt sends in a cross from the left-hand side that looks to be heading out of play at the far post, but Demirović is somehow able to squeeze it past Zetterer.
29th minute: Referee Harm Osmers points to the spot after Njinmah appears to have been taken down inside the box.
31st minute: However, after consulting with VAR, Osmers reverses his decision and play continues with a drop-ball.
33rd minute: Stiller manages to get off a shot from 14 metres out, but Zetterer is in the right spot to gather his shot.
45th minute +4: So close to a second! Njinmah is able to curl a shot towards goal from just outside the box, but is unlucky to only hit the post.
Second-half highlights:
46th minute: Ducksch delivers a free kick into the box where the ball is met by Bittencourt, but his header sails over the crossbar.
48th minute: Another dangerous set pieces from Ducksch, this time from a corner-kick. It's redirected towards goal by Stark, but his header goes over the net.
50th minute: Stuttgart go close for the first time since the change of ends. Vagnoman is left with plenty of space to drive forwards after receiving the ball from Demirović, but is put under pressure by Köhn, causing him to send his effort wide of the target.
56th minute: So close to a second for the Green-Whites! Schmid's cross into the box appears to be heading for Ducksch, but the attacker pulls back at the last second and lets the ball fall to Weiser instead. Our number 8 has to get down to get a head to the ball, but it bounces wide of the post.
64th minute: Demirović rounds Zetterer and looks to slot the ball into the back of the net. Luckily, Friedl is there to intercept the ball before it can go in – the goal wouldn't have counted, however, as the lineman's flag was already up.
70th minute: Ducksch delivers another strong set piece, picking out Stark for a header. His effort is caught by Nübel.
77th minute: Werder lead again! Another corner – our ninth of the afternoon – bounces around the box before falling to Stage. He's able to bury the ball into the back of the net.
85th minute: VfB equalise for a second time, again through Demirović. He's able to break past Lynen and slot the ball past Zetterer for his second of the day.
88th minute: Stage is able to pick out Ducksch inside the box, as he looks to round Nübel. The goalkeeper is able to come sliding out and snatch the ball away from Ducksch's feet.
90th minute +6: VfB's Woltemade comes close to scoring late on, but is denied by Zetterer.
90th minute +6: Full time. Despite leading twice, SV Werder are held to a 2-2 draw by Stuttgart.
Summary: VfB enjoyed more of the ball in the opening minutes, as the Green-Whites managed to work their way into the match. The first half saw the hosts generate a solid number of chances in the final third, something which continued after the break. However, Werder were unable to finish these chances, ultimately seeing their second lead of the afternoon cancelled out again just minutes later.
SV Werder: Zetterer - Stark, Friedl (83' Jung), Veljkovic - Weiser, Lynen, Köhn - Bittencourt (67' Stage), Schmid (90' Grüll) - Ducksch, Njinmah (83' Burke)
VfB Stuttgart: Nübel - Stergiou (80' Diehl), Chase, Chabot (67' Hendriks), Mittelstädt (89' Rouault) - Karazor (80' Millot), Stiller - Vagnoman, Rieder (67' Woltemade), Führich - Demirovic
Goals: 1-0 Njinmah (6'), 1-1 Demirovic (20'), 2-1 Stage (77'), 2-2 Demirovic (85')
Referee: Harm Osmers
Spectators: 42,100 (sold out)
