Miroslav Klose's 20th goal of the season on the 28th match day proved enough for Werder to pick up all three points in Frankfurt against Eintracht. Following a poor first half, Werder raised their game after the break and sealed the points thanks to a 70th minute penalty.

Thomas Schaaf made just one change to the side which beat Hanover 5:0 last weekend with Jurica Vranjes filling in for the injured Torsten Frings (calf strain) in defensive midfield. With both Frings and Frank Baumann out, Tim Borowski took the captains armband for the afternoon.

The game began with a massive chance for Frankfurt before Werder had even realised the game had started in ernst. After a Vranjes foul, Köhler floated a free-kick past both Eintracht and Werder's collective gathering finding Amanatidis who hit the outside of the post from a tight angle (3'). It was a let off for Werder who played poorly in the first half against a compact Eintracht defensive. In particular, there was little impulse from the midfield which left Frank Fahrenhorst or Petri Pasanen to try set the front men on their way with long ball tactics.

Debut for Vander, Wiese back contusion

The first real cahnce for the visitors fell to centre half Naldo who drove a free-kick from 20m through the wall, where it took a wicked deflection off Hüggel but the Frankfurt keeper Nikolov got down well and plucked the ball almost off the line for a corner (32'). The team in 13th place in the table had the better of the chances and could have taken the lead through Amanatidis (17') or Meier (34'). For Werder, the most decisive scene of the first half was in the 24th minute. Tim Weise came to gather a ball and clashed with Benjamin Hüggel. The keeper was forced to leave the field of play then five minutes later with a back contusion - to replace him came Christian Vander, making his debut for the Green-Whites.

The match came to an abrupt end for striker Nelson Valdez too. The young Paraguayean was roughly handled during the first 45 minutes and due to a knee problem was forced to make way at half-time for Ivan Klasnic. Werder raised their play in the second period and found openings, if only sporadically. Tim Borowski was put on his way with a long pass from Johan Micoud. The German international powered away from marker Russ and let fly but the Eintracht keeper was able to clear with an out-stretched foot (53'). Patrick Owomoyela, who was introduced for Daniel Jensen, hit the outside of the post with a solo effort in the 67th minute.

Klose's from the spot

Then followed the scene that would eventually decide the tie. Miro Klose was clearly pulled back by Marko Rehmer when he attempted to get on the end of a deflected Vranjes effort, leaving referee Fandel no choice but to award a penalty. Klose deided to take on the responsibility himself and buried his first penalty for Werder - 0:1 (70').

The Green-Whites were clever with their lead and sat back only striking on the break. Klose could have secured the points two minutes after his spot kick when Borowski played him through with only the keeper to beat, but Nikolov was on form and cleared the danger. The Eintracht number one was lightening quick with his reflexes again in the 84th as he blocked a Patrick Owomoyela header.

With the Bremen back line in good form, their narrow lead was only rarely threatened. Naldo had to clear from Köhler (74') and Vander made a spectacular save from a free-kick from Köhler but little more endangered the scoreline. With Alex Meier also heading wide in added time, Werder were finally sure of the points. Hardly an impressive performance but three 'Big Points' in the tight race for a Champions League place. It was a successful day which left Werder again taking second place again, at the very least until Sunday evening.

Johnnie Muldoon