Werder Bremen have been unceremoniously dumped out of this season’s Champions League following a hefty 3:0 defeat at the hands of Olympiacos Pieaeus. The German side will now go on, as third placed side in the group, to play in the latter stages of the UEFA Cup.

The second half had only just begun at the Georgios-Karaiskrakis-Stadium in Piraeus when Naldo climbed to meet a Diego corner and powerfully head goal wards. The Olympiacos keeper, Nikopolidis, was clearly beaten but the defender Mendrinos was perfectly placed on the front post to clear the ball off the goal line and the Greeks were able to breathe a loud sigh of relief.

It was exactly the shot in the arm that Thomas Schaaf’s side would have needed on what was to be a cruel Tuesday evening in Greece. Just one second quicker than their opponents, just one step ahead with luck on their side but it was not to be and the Greek’s secured their spot in the last sixteen of the Champions League with three goals from three determined attacks on the Werder goal.

Werder caught cold

The game got off to a good start for the visitors from Bremen with more of the possession early on and a shot from Diego on eight minutes which the Piraeus keeper could only parry away but Boubacar Sanogo couldn’t quite reach the loose ball. Almost directly on the break, the hosts took the lead. Lua Lua won the ball outside the Green-Whites penalty area and passed to Stoltidis who had time to pick his spot and drive hard and low from 18 meters out past a fully stretched Tim Wiese to make it 1:0 (12’).

Despite being behind, Werder controlled the game and were able to create a number of chances but had their work cut out for them against a Greek side who looked willing to sit back now and defend their lead. The Greek keeper seemed rather shaky but was on hand to block a double effort from Tim Borowski and again Sanogo after 24 minutes. The Brazilian playmaker Diego was tightly marked, often by two men, on the night but created the next chance to pull his side level as he broke through two defenders to pass to the advancing Jensen but Nikopolidis was happy to see the Danes shot go wide of the target (37’).

At the other end, Tim Wiese was put to the test when Lua Lua set up Kovacevic but the Werder keeper stormed out of his goal to fling himself at the feet of the waiting striker and prevent Olympiacos doubling their lead (41’).

Piraeus decide the tie in four minutes

The Werder keeper had no chance of stopping the Greek’s increasing their lead in the seventieth minute. Stoltidis put in a tempting, pacy ball from the left and with Naldo appearing rooted to the spot, Kovacevic nipped ahead of the centre half to head into the bottom right corner and make it 2:0.

Four minutes later, the Olympiacos duo combined once again to put the game well and truly beyond the German visitors. Stolidis rose to head a corner into the path of Kovacevic who controlled well and shot through the legs of Aaron Hunt on the back post – 3:0 (74’).

Werder oin UEFA Cup course

Even with a three goal deficit to deal with, Werder continued to press towards the Piraeus goal but the necessary determination was lost and the well organised Greek back line always seemed to have an answer to the Green-Whites efforts.

Despite the defeat, Werder Bremen will carry on in Europe after the winter break. With Lazio beaing beaten by Real Madrid, the German side took third spot in the group and will now go on to partake in the latter stages of the UEFA Cup where expectations of Thomas Schaaf’s men will be great.

Johnnie Muldoon

Olympiacos Piraeus - Werder Bremen 3:0

Olympiacos Piräus: Nikopolidis, Torosidis, Zewlakow, Antzas, Pantos, Patsatzoglu (25. Mendrinos), Ledesma, Stoltidis, Galletti (85. Nunez), LuaLua, Kovacevic (82. Mitroglou).

Werder Bremen: Wiese, Fritz, Baumann (83. Tosic), Naldo, Pasanen, Vranjes (58. Hunt), Jensen, Borowski, Diego, Sanogo (67. Almeida), Rosenberg.

Goals: 1:0 Stoltidis (12.); 2:0 Kovacevic (70.); 3:0 Stoltidis (74.)

Yellow cards: Rosenberg - Antzas

Referee: Laurent Duhamel (France)

Attendance: Georgios-Karaiskakis-Stadion: 33.500