Werder continued their formidable run of results on matchday 21. The Green-Whites beat fourth placed FC Augsburg to make it five consecutive victories in front of 40,000 spectators in the Weser-Stadion. Assani Lukimya opened the scoring with a header in the 16th minute. The game was back level in the 21st minute thanks to Ragnar Klavan's equaliser but it took less than 120 seconds for Werder to reclaim their lead. Franco Di Santo coolly converted a penalty in the 23rd minute after Selke was fouled. Werder built upon their lead just before the break with a Theo Gebre Selassie header and although Werner got one back for the guests in the second half, Werder held on. The team now has 29 points and is 8th in the Bundesliga table.

Line-up and formation: Manager Viktor Skripnik was able to call upon top scorer Franco Di Santo again. Bartels dropped in behind Di Santo and Selke with Junuzovic, Kroos, who replaced the injured Bargfrede (back), and captain Fritz completing the diamond formation. There were also two changes in the back four. Santiago Garcia was preferred at left back to Sternberg, while Assani Lukimya came in to central defence for the injured Gálvez. 

Match highlights:

7' First real opportunity for Bremen. Fritz played the ball through to Selke who fired just wide of the post.

10' Great save by FCA goalkeeper Manninger to deny Fritz from firing Werder into the lead.

16' GOOOAAALLL: 1-0, Assani Lukimya. Super start and deserved lead. The Green-Whites are rewarded for their all-out attacking style of play. Lukimya loses his marker Ji and heads Junuzovic's free-kick in at the back post from 6 yards out.

21' Equaliser: 1-1, Ragnar Klavan. The guests hadn't really been in the Bremen box up until now. Garcia loses track of Augsburg centre back Klavan who meets Bobadilla's corner and heads in the equaliser. Slight deflection off Gebre Selassie.

23' PENALTYfor Werder! Goalscorer Klavan fouled Selke in the penalty area. Clear foul and correct decision.

23' GOOOAAALLL: 2-1 to Werder, Franco Di Santo. Werder's top scorer coolly slots past Manninger to score his tenth goal of the season.

35' Quick counterattack and interchange of passes sees centre back Lukimya through into the penalty area. Manninger blocks the chance at the last minute.

36' Goal line clearance by Werner to deny Selke. The striker rose to head Junuzovic's corner goal bound.

45' GOOOAAALLL: 3-1, Theo Gebre Selassie. The Green-Whites score at the perfect time to increase their lead just before the break. Goal came from another Junuzovic set-piece with Gebre Selassie heading home from a corner.

Half time at the Weser-Stadion: FCA could have reduced the deficit just in added time but both Werner and Höjbjerg headed wide.

46' Clemens Fritz took a knock to his thigh in the first half so is replaced by birthday boy Levent Aycicek.

49' The Green-Whites continue to press forward. Garcia cuts inside and feeds the ball to Junuzovic whose shot smashes against the crossbar. So close!

62' Aaaaaaah centimetres from scoring the perfect goal! FCA central defender Callsen-Bracker fails to clear and Junuzovic attempts an audacious overhead kick which just goes over the crossbar.

79' GOAL: Werner pulls a goal back for Augsburg but Werder still lead 3-2. The Green-Whites fail to clear a corner which falls kindly to Werner who smashes the ball into the back of the net.

82' A Junuzovic free-kick rattles against the upright.

90' The 90 minutes are up but there are still 3 additional minutes to be played. Come on lads! Hold on!

90+3' Full time: It was close at the end but Werder weren't going to let the three points slip away.

Summary: It took a tremendous effort to beat an in-form Augsburg team. In the first half, Viktor Skripnik's team played a direct attacking game which left the Augsburg defence in a quandary. The goals came from well-worked set pieces. The game could have been laid to rest had Werder not wasted so many good chances after the break. The closing stages, where FCA could have got back on level terms, were tight but the Green-Whites had the strength and determination to hold out for the three points.