33rd matchday
Werder makes staying in the class perfect – draw against Cologne
Werder will also play in the Bundesliga next season. photo
© Carmen Jaspersen/dpa
Bremen secures its place in the Bundesliga. Romano Schmid secured Werder the important point in the 1-1 draw against Cologne and the return of Niclas Füllkrug.
Werder Bremen can finally plan for the coming season in the Bundesliga. On the penultimate day of the season, the Hanseatic League were not in good shape with a 1-1 (0-1) loss, but they still managed to stay in the league.
The team coached by Ole Werner, which also benefited from the shared points at Schalke and in Berlin, achieved the club’s most important goal this season just under a year after promotion to the first division. In addition, Bremen ended a series of defeats after three previous bankruptcies. Cologne, who are in midfield, had long been sure of staying up.
Werder is currently five points ahead of the relegation rank, even if Stuttgart wins on Sunday it would still be four points. That’s enough for the green-whites for the whereabouts party. Steffen Tigges (36th minute) shocked the green and white part in the sold-out Weser Stadium with the guests’ opening goal. Substitute midfielder Romano Schmid (73rd) equalized late for the home side.
Filling jug inconspicuous in the starting eleven comeback
National player Niclas Füllkrug returned to the starting XI after missing five games. The top scorer in the league, who had previously injured his calf, remained inconspicuous and had to approach the game. But it wasn’t just the 30-year-old who started cautiously, his team-mates also seemed sluggish.
Only Marvin Ducksch (8th/9th) tested FC goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe twice. However, the keeper made a strong save. On the other side, Werder goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka deflected Cologne’s first dangerous shot.
After 20 minutes, the visibly dissatisfied coach Werner called the players over to him and gave instructions during an injury break. Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart, on the other hand, only brought in one player in Dejan Ljubicic – and replaced the yellow-red endangered midfielder for Jan Thielmann.
Tigges surprisingly made it 1-0 with a head. The hit wasn’t really deserved, as both teams couldn’t convince much in the turbulent encounter.
Werder coach Werner took out three players shortly after the break. Including Schmidt, who came on for Leonardo Bittencourt. Bremen’s game improved slightly, but was still prone to errors. The substitution of the Austrian should pay off: Schmidt redeemed the home fans with his first Bundesliga goal.