Werder Bremen bounced back from a tough defeat last week for a dominating 4-0 victory at home against Freiburg on the 30th game day of the Bundesliga, defending fifth place in the league. Claudio Pizarro scored two goals for Werder while Aaron Hunt and Mesut Özil also tallied for Bremen.

Head coach Thomas Schaaf once again was able to call upon his captain Torsten Frings, who returned after his red card suspension into the starting line-up, sending Hugo Almeida to the bench. The game started up-tempo between the promoted club Freiburg and Werder. Both teams had chances but Bremen eventually began to take over control of the run of play.

Bremen keeper Tim Wiese made a fine save against Papiss Cissé from five yards in the 23rd minute with a fine reaction. Then Bremen’s Marko Marin watched Freiburg keeper Simon Pouplin come up with a strong save in the 33rd minute. But Thomas Schaaf’s team finally grabbed the lead a minute later as Naldo headed on a cross by Philipp Bargfrede into the path of Claudio Pizarro, who proved his scoring quality once again to make it 1-0. Freiburg’s Heiko Butscher deflected Clemens Fritz’s attempt in the 40th minute which went just past the framework. And Bremen led 1-0 at the break.

Werder were also the better side after intermission and offered the spectators at the sold-out Weser Stadium some excellent passing football. The first chance after the break went to Mesut Özil, who was fed by Naldo but could not beat Pouplin from 12 yards in the 50th minute. Aaron Hunt proved more effective four minutes later after a pass by Claudio Pizarro for a 2-0 lead. And it was 3-0 after 56 minutes as Pizarro scored his second goal to all but secure the victory.

And the game was decided for good in the 66th minute after a fine passing combination between Mesut Özil and Marko Marin with Özil beating Pouplin for a 4-0 lead. Hugo Almeida was brought into the game in the 70th minute for Pizarro but could not score a goal in his 100th Bundesliga appearance in a Werder jersey. Still, the Green-Whites secured three important points.

Werder Bremen: Wiese – Fritz, Mertesacker, Naldo (75’ Prödl), Pasanen – Frings, Bargfrede (70’ Borowski) - Marin, Özil, Hunt– Pizarro (70’ Almeida); reserves: Wiedwald – Boenisch, Jensen, Rosenberg

Freiburg: Pouplin – Mujdza, Barth, Butscher, Bastians – Schuster (70’ Banovic), Flum, Makiadi – Jäger (61’ Claigiuri), Idrissou – Cissé (61’ Reisinger)

Goals: 1-0 (34’) Pizarro, 2-0 (54’) Hunt, 3-0 (56’) Pizarro, 4-0 (66’) Özil

Referee: Dr. Felix Brych (Munich)

Weser Stadium: 37,000 spectators (sold out)