Werder Bremen played to just a 1-1 draw at home against Borussia Möchengladbach in the 20th game day of the season. Claudio Pizarro sent the 42,100 spectators at Weser Stadion into a frenzy with the opening goal in the 76th minute. But Michael Bradley equalised in the 79th minute for the guests.

The exciting first half saw both sides create a number of goal chances - albeit unsuccessful. Gladbach’s Paul Stalteri cleared Claudio Pizarro’s header at the right post in the ninth minute. Bremen had luck a minute later as the linesman ruled off-sides on Karim Matmour’s heading pass to Roberto Colautti - a very close ruling.

After a relatively even first 20 minutes, Werder began to take over the game and deserved to have taken the lead. New German international Mesut Özil just missed his target after a solo run in the 26th minute. Gladbach keeper Logan Bailly barely got his fingers on a header by Hugo Almeida after a Özil corner in the 33rd minute. And the guests had to be happy with a 0-0 score at the break.

The first good chance of the second half belonged to Werder as well. After a fine cross by Sebastian Boenisch, German international Torsten Frings got past Bailly but Christian Dorda was able to clear the ball at the line. That was quite unfortunate because Werder definitely deserved the lead at that time and it would have been very important.

The game really heated up in the final stages. In the 76th minute Pizarro headed home a corner kick to finally give Bremen the 1-0 lead, sending the fans at Weser Stadion into celebrations. The first Bundesliga victory of 2009 appeared in sight. But the Werder celebrations were silenced just three minutes later as a Marko Marin free kick went past everyone in the area and landed at Michael Bradley, who used his breast to score the equaliser 1-1 in the 79th minute.

The game at a glance:

Werder Bremen: Wiese - Fritz, Mertesacker, Naldo, Boenisch – Baumann - Frings, Tziolis - Özil – Pizarro, Almeida (54' Rosenberg)

Borussia Mönchengladbach: Bailly - Gohouri, Galasek, Daems - Stalteri, Jantschke (40' Neuville), Dorda (68' Paauwe) - Matmour (75' Marin), Bradley, Baumjohann - Colautti

Goals: 1-0 Pizarro (76'), 1-1 Bradley (79')

Referee: Schmidt (Stuttgart)

Attendance: 42,100 (Weser-Stadium, sold-out)

Yellow cards: Tziolis, Naldo – Bradley