Werder Bremen cruise to victory over struggling Holstein Kiel
Werder Bremen got back to winning ways with a convincing 3-0 victory over struggling Holstein Kiel on Matchday 27. They led 1-0 at the break thanks to a brilliant Marvin Ducksch free-kick, before putting the game to bed in the second half.
Holstein Kiel 0–3 Werder Bremen
Goals: 0-1 Ducksch 25‘, 0-2 Agu 59‘, 0-3 Grüll 90+5‘ (assist: Weiser)
Bremen travelled to the Holstein-Stadion to face a Kiel side desperate for points in their relegation battle. The visitors entered the match boasting an impressive away record, having collected 20 of their 33 points on the road. Kiel, meanwhile, faced an uphill struggle, with no team in Bundesliga history having avoided relegation with such a poor points tally at this stage of the season.
Bremen dominate from the off
Bremen asserted their dominance from the opening whistle, controlling possession and creating half chances early on. The breakthrough came in the 25th minute when Ducksch stepped up to take a free-kick from a tight angle. The striker produced a moment of magic, curling the ball over the wall and in off the far post, leaving Kiel goalkeeper Thomas Dähne rooted to the spot. The hosts struggled to respond, failing to register a single shot on target in the first half. Kiel manager Marcel Rapp, clearly dissatisfied with his team's performance, made three substitutions before the break in a bid to change the tide.
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Agu wonder strike seals the deal
The second half saw a slight improvement from Kiel, but it was Bremen who struck again in spectacular fashion. In the 59th minute, Felix Agu received the ball on the edge of the box following a partially cleared cross. The defender took a touch before unleashing a curling effort that nestled into the top corner, doubling Bremen's lead and effectively ending Kiel's hopes of a comeback. The hosts continued to struggle in front of goal, failing to seriously test Michael Zetterer in the Bremen net. As Kiel pushed forward in desperation, Bremen capitalised on the counter-attack. In the third minute of stoppage time, Marco Grüll put the finishing touches on a flowing move to make it 3-0, capping off a comprehensive away victory for Werder Bremen.
Player of the Match: Marvin Ducksch
Ducksch was the standout performer in Bremen's convincing win. His exquisite free-kick not only broke the deadlock but set the tone for the entire match. Ducksch's goal came from a difficult angle with an xG of just 0.0557, highlighting the quality of the finish. Beyond his goal, the striker was a constant threat, creating chances for his teammates and playing a crucial role in Bremen's second goal with his intelligent movement and precise cross. Ducksch's performance epitomised Bremen's clinical display and was instrumental in securing the three points.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Holstein Kiel 0.72 - Werder Bremen 1.56
Fastest player: Felix Agu (Bremen), 34.93 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-0 by Marvin Ducksch (Bremen), 5.57 percent
Most pressed player: Romano Schmid (Bremen), 28 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Michael Zetterer (Bremen), +3.98
Fantasy Heroes: Felix Agu (Bremen, 306 Points), Mitchell Weiser (Bremen, 264 Points), Romano Schmid (Bremen, 233 Points)
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