Improving Bremen triumph in Berlin

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SV Werder Bremen inflicted a first home defeat of the season on third-placed Hertha Berlin at the Olympiastadion on Matchday 14.

Hertha Berlin 0-1 SV Werder Bremen

Goals: 0-1 Kruse (41')

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A keenly contested first half burst into life late on as Claudio Pizarro forced a strong save out of Hertha goalkeeper Rune Jarstein. Max Kruse sent the rebound over, but the Bremen striker gobbled up his next opportunity, picking off Niklas Stark's errant pass and slotting under Jarstein in the 41st minute. Hertha almost levelled with the last kick of the half, but Vedad Ibisevic's strike clipped the outside of the woodwork.

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Ibisevic combined with Salomon Kalou to good effect midway through the second half, but this time the Bosnian striker's effort was straight at Bremen goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny. The Green-Whites responded in kind as Pizarro floated in an inviting cross for Santiago Garcia, whose bullet header was well saved by Jarstein. Drobny dived full stretch to thwart Valentin Stocker as Hertha upped their search for an equaliser, but Bremen held on for their first away win of the season.

- © imago / Contrast

Talking point

Unbeaten in three and following two successive wins, things are looking up for Bremen. Alexander Nouri's charges now sit four points clear of the bottom three.

Match stats

    Hertha were the only team in the Bundesliga this season still with a 100 per cent record on home soil prior to Matchday 14.Kruse scored in successive matches for the first time in 2016.With an average age of 30, Nouri named the oldest starting line-up in the Bundesliga this season.

Line-ups

Hertha: Jarstein - Pekarik (Schieber 70'), Langkamp (Stocker 20'), Stark, Platenhardt - Lustenberger, Skjelbred - Esswein (Weiser 57'), Darida, Kalou - Ibisevic (c)

Coach: Pal Dardai

Bremen: Drobny - Bauer, Sane, Moisander, Garcia (Gebre Selassie 78') - Fritz (c), Bargfrede - Bartels, Kruse (Veljkovic 84'), Gnabry (Junuzovic 88') - Pizarro

Coach: Alexander Nouri