Niclas Füllkrug scored his Bundesliga-leading eighth goal of the season as promoted Werder Bremen got the better of Hoffenheim, in front of Germany head coach Hansi Flick.

Hoffenheim 1-2 Werder Bremen
Goals: 0-1 Ducksch 18' (assist: Füllkrug), 1-1 Dabbur 33' (assist: Geiger), 1-2 Füllkrug (pen. 87')

Unbeaten at home under Andre Breitenreiter in 2022/23, Hoffenheim started the brighter as Robert Skov flashed a shot just past the far post. Christoph Baumgartner fired over, before Bremen forged ahead with their first meaningful attack. Playing a slick one-two with 2022/23 Bundesliga top scorer and uncapped German strike partner Füllkrug, Marvin Ducksch placed a superb strike into the bottom corner from just inside the Hoffenheim area. The hosts hit back in the 33rd minute, though, when Dennis Geiger fed Dabbur to crown an incisive counter-attack. Baumgartner struck the woodwork, and Füllkrug tested Oliver Baumann in an energetic conclusion to the first half.

Hoffenheim remained the more proactive of the teams after the restart as Baumagartner made Jiri Pavlenka work with a shot in at the near post. The Bremen stopper pulled off an even better save with almost 70 minutes gone, the Czech stopper beating away Skov's bouncing ball into the corridor of uncertainty. Bremen returned fire as Füllkrug cut a pass across goal for Mitchell Weiser, but his shot bobbled harmlessly wide. Weiser turned provider for Ducksch soon after, only for ex-Werder man Kevin Vogt to intervene with a goal-saving sliding challenge. Kings of the late show, the Green-Whites found time for a winner after a VAR review showed Stanley Nsoki to have impeded Weiser. Füllkrug made no mistake from the spot to send Bremen up to fourth, overnight at least.

Match stats

• Werder have scored a league-high nine goals in the final 15 minutes this season - all after the 82nd minute.
• Füllkrug has eight goals and two assists this season.
• Ducksch has scored in back-to-back Bundesliga games for the first time.
• Only Bayern Munich (23) have scored more goals than Bremen (20) in this season's Bundesliga.
• Hoffenheim had won three and drawn one of four home games before losing to Bremen, who are unbeaten on the road this term (W3, D2).
• Dabbur joined Kramaric on three goals for the campaign.

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Watch: Füllkrug on his strike partnership with Ducksch

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Teams

Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) - Kabak, Vogt, Nsoki - Skov (Kaderabek (66'), Prömel, Geiger, Angelino (Bruun Larsen 89') - Baumgartner - Kramaric (Rutter 66'), Dabbur
Unused subs: Philipp, Stiller, Rudy, Becker, Akpoguma, Quaresma
Out: Bebou (knee), Bicakcic (fitness), Hübner (ankle)
Coach: Andre Breitenreiter

Bremen: Pavlenka - Stark, Veljkovic, Friedl (c) - Weiser, Schmid (Stage 90'+2), Groß (Pieper 90'+1), Gruev (Bittencourt 59'), Jung (Buchanan 75') - Füllkrug, Ducksch
Unused subs: Zetterer, Burke, Schmidt, Goller, Agu
Out: Mbom (Achilles), Salifou (groin)
Coach: Ole Werner

About the clubs

TSG Hoffenheim

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SV Werder Bremen

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