Werder Bremen have now also learned that a new start in the second division will not be easy. The relegated Bundesliga seems to have just arrived in the battle-tested league. After a mixed performance, Bremen did not get more than 1: 1 (0: 0) in the north derby against Hannover 96 and in this condition will have problems with the direct Bundesliga return.
An own goal by Simon Falette, pressed by Werder captain Ömer Toprak, gave SV Werder the lead in the 49th minute. Six minutes later, 96 goalscorer Marvin Ducksch was successful by Lupfer to equalize. In front of 14,000 spectators in the Weserstadion, the team of new coach Markus Anfang went into their first second division game in more than 40 years with a lot of verve. But the first momentum quickly fizzled out, although the audience had greeted their own team with friendly applause. In the end, some of the fans in the Weserstadion even whistled the team after the final whistle. “We know we have to make amends. But that won’t happen overnight,” said Toprak in a Sport1 interview. “Hannover could have punished us today too.”
“We could have played many scenes better to the end,” said beginning on Sky. “Then we got a counter goal, that shouldn’t happen at home with the lead. In the end we had a little luck on our side.” A low shot by Yuya Osako in the eighth minute, which 96 goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler blocked for a corner, remained the only clear scoring opportunity for the hosts until half time. Hannover had to sort itself out for a quarter of an hour and subsequently found its way into the game better.
Marvin Ducksch hits the post first – and then into the goal
Ducksch indicated his danger for the first time in the 17th minute, his header just missed the right goal post. Eight minutes later, Florent Muslija hit the top of the crossbar with a long-range shot. Werder goalkeeper Michael Zetterer would have had no chance on his debut.
At Werder there were eight players in the starting line-up who were already part of the relegation squad last season. The fact that Kevin Möhwald went into voluntary quarantine in his personal environment after a positive corona test also extended a long drop-out list consisting of all the first division experienced players: Leonardo Bittencourt, Milos Veljkovic, Jiri Pavlenka, Eren Dinkci and newcomer Nicolai Rapp were all missing. How many players will leave the club or join the club is also open.
The new 96 coach Jan Zimmermann pushed his protégés more and more forward towards the end of the first half. The Bremen cover, which had been firm up until then, promptly showed weaknesses, but was able to save itself with a 0-0 break. After the break, the guests were unlucky again, this time Ducksch hit the post (53rd). But after he equalized 120 seconds later, the game was completely open again. While both teams were more concerned about protection before the break, they now took more risks.
In the final phase, Hanover forced the Bremen team to play more and more combat-oriented football. Playful elements came into play less and less. Ducksch had great chances to take the 96 lead again (82nd / 84th). “I’m glad that we took at least this point with us,” said Anfang. “We have had a tough time. Not everything can work out right away.”