A fantastic Saturday afternoon for all the Green-Whites on the Weser with their side continuing their unbeaten home run on the 13th day of the season. Werder picked up their sixth home win of the current season with a 6:1 drubbing of VfL Wolfsburg to solidify their second place in the table.

Frank Fahrenhorst returned to the starting eleven after his suspension to replace Danish international Leon Andreasen. With Ivan Klasnic still recovering from his appendix operation, Nelson Valdez again replaced the Croatian with the rest of the side unchanged from the previous tie.

Wolfsburg trainer Holger Fach was also forced to make changes in his defence, Facundo Quiroga filling in for the suspended Kevin Hofland.

Werder showed their intentions from the outset. Nelson Valdez and Johan Micoud combined with 'Le Chef' letting fly from 18 meters, only missing Simon Jentzsch's goal by inches - and that after mere seconds. Not long after, Werders French playmaker was at it again. Micoud's free-kick found its way to Patrick Owomoyela who forced his way through in the box and squared to captain Frank Baumann who lashed his shot home from close range to gives the hosts an early lead.

The goal shook the Wolves out of their sleep and they in turn shifted up a gear. Hans Sarpei broke past Schulz on the right and layed off for Maik Hanke who found himself caught minds between a shot and a pass to strike partner Diego Klimowicz which meant the Argentinian came too late and sliced his efforet wide. The guests from Lower Saxony didn't appear to have much more to offer and resorted to some hefty tackling in an effort to stop the Green-White onslaught, leaving referee Dr. Helmut Fleischer no choice but to brandish his yellow card for Maik Franz at the heart of the VfL backline after just 13 minutes.

Shortly afterwards, Juan Carlos Menseguez caused a few skipped heartbeats amoungsts the Werder faithful with a solo run which begun almost at the corner flag where he beat Torsten Frings and Frank Fahrenhorst before the latter made a naieve challenge in the box which could have easily led to a penalty. Menseguez had the Wolves next chance ten minutes later with a drive from the edge of the area but his attempt was denied by the flying Andreas Reinke who needed to use every centimeter of his frame to clear for a corner.

Prior to the half time break Werder created chance after chance but proved unabl to sink the final ball. It took a Tim Borowski strike in the 43rd minute to break the Werder duck. The German international had his first try blocked by Levan Tskitishvili almost on the goal-line, but the rebound fell once again to 'Boro' who this time found his mark to give the hometeam a comfortable 2:0 half time lead.

37,258 fans at the Weser Stadium saw the second half begin much as the first had. Miroslav Klose laid off to Nelson Valdez with a neat back heel but the young Paraguayean smashed his shot just over the crossbar (51'). A minute later Micoud found himself heading towards the VfL goal alone but was forced away by the keeper. The Frenchman retained possession, carried the ball a few more paces before passsing to Klose. The German striker took one touch to set-up international colleague Borowski who again found the target - 3:0.

It took just five more minutes before Werder conceeded their almost compulsory goal. The Green-Whites have yet to keep a clean sheet in front of their own crowd. Menseguez found Miroslav Karhan who flicked on to Klimowicz. The Argentine striker danced around Andi reinke and chipped the ball over the line (57').

Werder were not to be unsettled by conceeding and continued to press forward and three minutes later Miro Klose nodded home a Micoud corner to rewstore the three goal cushion . Sudddenly it was all going right for the home side. Naldo got in on the action when he climbed highest to meet a Borowski corrner to notch up his first of the season and at the same time celebrate the birth of his son (72').

That wasn't to be the end of the scoring on the night. A horrendously misplaced pass by Quiroga was symptomatic of the kind of afternoon VfL were having - the ball landing at the feet of Miroslav Klose who found himself almost shocked to be in possession but cool enough to round Simon Jentzsch and score his second and Werders sixth (85'). 6:1 the final score on an altogether successful afternoon on the Weser.

Johnnie Muldoon

Werder Bremen- VfL Wolfsburg 6:1

Werder Bremen: Reinke - Owomoyela, Fahrenhorst, Naldo, Schulz - Baumann - Frings (77. Vranjes), Borowski - Micoud (69. Jensen)- Klose, Valdez (69. Hunt)

VfL Wolfsbrug: Jentzsch - Sarpei, Franz, Quiroga, Neziri - Thiam - Karhan, Tskitishvili (73. van der Heyden) - Menseguez - Hanke (73. Marlet), Klimowicz

Goals: 1:0 Baumann (5.), 2:0 Borowski (43.), 3:0 Borowski (52.), 3:1 Klimowicz (57.), 4:1 Klose (60.), 5:1 Naldo (72.), 6:1 Klose (85.)

Referee: Dr. Helmut Fleischer (Siegmertshausen)

Attendance: Weser-Stadion, 37.258 Zuschauer

Yellow cards: Franz (13.), Micoud (45.), Jentzsch (53.)

Shots on goal: 25:15

Corners: 4:9

Crosses: 19:8

Possession: 55%:45%

Tackles won: 57%:43%

Fouls: 18:11

Offsides: 5:1

Most shots on goal: Klose (7) – Thiam (4)

Most assists: Borowski (6) – Menseguez (5)

Most possession: Schulz (85) – Neziri (66)

Strongest tackler: Owomoyela (74%) – Karhan (60%)