Werder Bremen beat Real Madrid legends in goal-filled anniversary match
Werder Bremen celebrated the 100th anniversary of their Weserstadion with a 4-3 friendly win against Real Madrid’s Legend’s team on Saturday..
Bremen Legends 4-3 Real Madrid Legends
Goals: 0-1 De la Red Gutiérrez 6’, 1-1 Sokratis 26’, 1-2 Callejón 41’, 2-2 Rosenberg 45’, 3-2 Charisteas 62’, 4-2 Diego 72’, 4-3 García Íñiguez 85’
A sold-out crowd at the Weserstadion was treated to some big names on either side of the pitch, with fan favourites Diego, Naldo, Ailton and Per Mertesacker starting for the hosts, while the likes of Claude Makélélé, Pepe, Christian Karembeu and Esteban Cambiasso began for Real Madrid.
The visitors threatened to spoil the party early on when they took the lead through Rubén de la Red Gutiérrez, but his sixth minute effort was soon cancelled out by Sokratis.
José Callejón restored the Spanish side’s lead shortly before the interval, but Bremen – coached by Bundesliga icons Thomas Schaaf, Otto Rehhagel and Claudio Pizarro – hit back almost instantly through Markus Rosenberg to make the score 2-2 at the interval.
Incidentally, Rosenberg was also on target the last time the first teams met in a competitive game, back in November 2007 in the group stage of the UEFA Champion League, when Bremen won 3-2 at the Weserstadion.
It was to be a similarly joyful occasion on Saturday, with Angelos Charisteas giving the hosts the lead for the first time in the 62nd minute, heading in a corner from Felix Kroos, whose brother Toni represented Real Madrid from 2014-2024.
Diego rolled back the years in the 72nd minute with an eye-catching curler from the edge of the box into the top corner to make it 4-2. Although Agustín García Íñiguez reduced the deficit moments later, Bremen were not to be denied on an evening of celebration.
“There are so many incredible years and memories to look back on, from being a young boy watching from the stands to the huge games we were fortunate enough to experience," said Schaaf of the occasion.
"The Champions League was obviously one of the highlights. I still get goosebumps when I think about my first game as head coach. You could immediately feel the excitement inside the stadium. It’s difficult to single out just one moment because each one has its own special significance.”
