Hoffenheim held to draw at battling Werder Bremen
Maximillian Eggestein scored inside five minutes for Werder Bremen, but Dennis Geiger's goal earned Hoffenheim a point away from home on Sunday which could have been three if not for missed chances.
Werder Bremen 1-1 Hoffenheim
Goals: 1-0 Eggestein (5'), 1-1 Geiger (22')
Bremen have already proven to be a far-improved side from that which survived the drop via the relegation play-off last summer. It took no time at all for them to burst into a lead, with Eggestein firing home from Theodor Gebre Selassie's cross. Hoffenheim had actually been the better side through the game's opening phases, and were able to keep the momentum going to equalise before the half-hour mark. Geiger's powerful finish from Sebastian Rudy's cut-back proving too hot for Jiri Pavlenka to handle. The away side had Robert Skov starting from left-back, and he had his eye for goal on show with shots from range threatening the Bremen goal. The hosts lost Niclas Füllkrug after 37 minutes after a knock, and his absence helped Hoffenheim end the half on top with Munas Dabbur forcing a save from Pavlenka at his near post just before the break.
The away side came out of the blocks quickly in the second half with Geiger seeing his shot deflected just over the Bremen goal from close range. Brazilian forward Klauss came on for his Bundesliga debut before the hour mark with Hoffenheim continuing to press for a go-ahead goal. Skov saw his free-kick from the far-right flank clipping the Bremen crossbar with just 10 minutes to play but the visitors were unable to find a way past Pavlenka in the Bremen goal, with neither side able to earn all three points.
Match stats
- Eggestein scored his 10th Bundesliga goal and the fastest of his career for Bremen.
- Geiger's goal was his first since November 2017 after 41 games without scoring in the Bundesliga.
- Hoffenheim have not lost away to Bremen in their last seven trips (two wins, five draws), their longest such run on the road against any current Bundesliga side.
- Füllkrug has been on target in three of his last five games against Hoffenheim.
- Sargent has started every game for Bremen so far in 2020/21. He was on target in the DFB Cup first round and assisted one of three Füllkrug goals against Schalke on Matchday 2, but hasn't scored in the Bundesliga since finding the net against Cologne on the final day of last season.
- Bremen are now unbeaten in their last four Bundesliga games.
Watch: Sargent: "We can do better at creating chances"
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Line-ups
Bremen: Pavlenka - Veljkovic, Moisander (c), Friedl - Gebre Selassie, Groß (Möhwald 71'), Eggestein, Mbom - Bittencourt, Sargent – Füllkrug (Osako 37‘, Chong 87')
Unused subs: Kapino, Rashica, Schmid, Toprak, Gruev, Woltemade
Out: Agu (not included), Augustinsson (thigh) Chong (not included), Erras (thigh), Selke (groin)
Coach: Florian Kohfeldt
Hoffenheim: Pentke - Posch, Vogt (c), Akpoguma - Rudy, Samassekou, Geiger, Skov (Sessegnon 86') - Baumgartner (Gacinovic 77') - Bruun Larsen (Klauss 59'), Dabbur (Adamyan 77')
Unused subs: Philipp, Brenet, Bebou, Belfodil, Bogarde
Out: Adams (not included), Baumann (stomach), Bicakcic (knee), Grillitsch (personal reasons), Hübner (ankle), Kaderabek (not included), Kramaric (not included), Stafylidis (shoulder)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß
Watch: Moisander: "We're very hungry for success"
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