Werder Bremen played out a 1:1 draw on the 25th Bundesliga match day away to Arminia Bielefeld. In front of 25,800 spectators, Oliver Kirch put the home side in front early on (15’) and it took a 70th minute penalty, converted by Diego, for the Green-Whites to draw level on the day.

As so often, Werder started brightly, taking control of the tie, and went in search of an early goal to settle themselves. The best opening for the visitors came after six minutes as Arminia keeper Rowen Fernandez was forced to make a stunning reflex save to deny Naldo, who had stolen in to test the keeper with a powerful header.

Very much against the run of play, the opening goal of the game was scored as the home side launched their very first, tentative attack. Christian Eigler fed Artur Wichniarek who got a shot in from a very tight angle. Tim Wiese managed to get a hand on the Pole’s effort but could only parry the ball back into the run of Oliver Kirch who was perfectly placed to slot the ball home and make it 1:0 for Arminia (15’).

Werder didn’t deal well with the set-back and the game became much more open than it had been before the goal. The best chance for Werder to equalise in the first half fell to Markus Rosenberg. Torsten Frings had driven a shot on goal from distance which Fernandez could only parry as far as the Swedish striker, who attempted to slot the ball under the goalkeeper, but there was to be no joy for the Green-White fateful as Rosenberg failed to beat the keeper with his low shot.

After the break, Werder appeared to have somehow lost their way and lacked ideas but eventually trainer Thomas Schaaf’s men found a way through in the 70th minute. Substitute Ivan Klasnic burst into the box to get on the end of a through ball but was wrestled to the ground in the area by Bielefeld’s Petr Gabriel and the referee had no choice but to award a spot kick. Diego took on the responsibility and went for pure power to beat the keeper and put Werder back on level terms.

The Bremen club went in search of a winner whilst Bielefeld were happy to hang back and wait on the opportunity to hit on the break. Both sides had chances but in the end there was to be no further change to the score-line and the game finished in an evenly matched 1:1 draw.

The game at a glance:

DSC Arminia Bielefeld: Fernandez - Bollmann, Mijatovic, Kucera, Schuler (46' Gabriel) - Kauf, Kirch, Marx - Halfar (83' Zuma), Eigler (74' Kamper), Wichniarek

Werder Bremen: Wiese - Fritz, Pasanen, Naldo, Boenisch - Baumann - Frings (79' Özil), Hunt - Diego - Almeida (46' Klasnic), Rosenberg (46' Sanogo)

Goals: 1:0 Kirch (15'), 1:1 Diego (70'/penalty)

Referee: Kircher (Rottenburg)

Attendance: 25.800 (Schüco-Arena)

Yellow cards: Schuler, Marx, Gabriel