Points shared after late drama
Having trailed at half-time, Sebastian Rode drew the Eagles level (55’) before Andre Silva’s late goal (88’) put them in front, only for Milot Rashica’s injury-time penalty to deny Eintracht what would have been a third consecutive win in all competitions.
Personnel: Minor rotation
Adi Hütter made three changes from the team that started at Vitória SC in the UEFA Europa League in midweek. Makoto Hasebe returned in defence having sat out Thursday’s game due to concussion, while Danny da Costa and Daichi Kamada were also recalled. Evan Ndicka, Erik Durm and Gelson Fernandes dropped to the bench.
First half: Bremen punish missed chances
At a wet, sold-out Commerzbank-Arena, the match got off to a lively start with both sides looking to get forward and create chances. Maximilian Eggestein gave the hosts a scare when his shot crashed against the post, before Eintracht responded with a volley from Kamada which was deflected over the bar. Kamada went even closer to grabbing his first Bundesliga goal in the 20th minute, when he finished off a delightful team move with a clipped shot which hit the underside of the bar. The Eagles were on top at this point and Silva then had two headed opportunities within the space a few minutes.
Hütter’s side were made to pay for not taking those chances on 27 minutes when Werder struck on the counter. Frederik Ronnow initially made a good save from Joshua Sargent’s shot, Leandro Bittencourt then hit the bar from the rebound but after some pinball in the penalty area, Klaassen eventually put it away. That goal, which came against the run of play, seemed to knock Eintracht off their stride, with the visitors happy to slow down and break up the play until half-time.
Second half: Late penalty denies Eagles victory
The Eagles immediately went on the hunt for an equaliser at the start of the second half and almost got it inside the first minute as Goncalo Paciencia’s header was brilliantly saved by Jiri Pavlenka. Paciencia’s aerial presence created another opportunity in the 54th minute when he headed down da Costa’s cross into the path of Kamada, but the youngster flicked the ball over from just two metres out. Just a minute later, though, SGE finally got their deserved equaliser when the ball dropped to Rode on the edge of the area and he lashed an unstoppable volley past Pavlenka.
The Eagles continued to dominate possession but the clear-cut chances dried up until a dramatic final period. Silva looked to have secured all three points for Eintracht when he pounced on the rebound after Paciencia’s header had been parried by Pavlenka, but the lead lasted just a couple of minutes. Bremen were awarded a penalty when Hasebe upended Klaassen as he attempted to clear the ball. Rashica, who was Eintracht’s nemesis in the same fixture last season, converted the spot-kick to salvage a point for the visitors.
Summary: Another good performance
The Eagles can draw plenty of positives from this match: the number of chances they created, the character they showed to overturn a 1-0 deficit and the fact they remain unbeaten at home in the Bundesliga this season. Werder Bremen couldn’t have had many complaints if they’d lost, but they took their chances to earn a point.
SGE line-up
Ronnow – Toure, Hinteregger, Hasebe – Da Costa, Rode, Sow, Kostic – Kamada (Gacinovic 84’) – Silva, Paciencia
Goals
0-1 Klaassen (27’)
1-1 Rode (55’)
1-2 Silva (88’)
2-2 Rashica (90‘+1)