In addition to Hakan Calhanoglu (CAS ban) and Jonathan Tah (rehab after groin injury), Tayfun Korkut had to manage without the captain Lars Bender due to an ankle injury. As announced before the match, Korkut made few changes to the starting eleven: Aleksandar Dragovic returned to the back four in place of Tin Jedvaj, Julian Baumgartlinger was preferred to Charles Aránguiz, and Julian Brandt replaced Kai Havertz in the starting line-up.
The visitors from Bremen made the brighter start and had the first real chance of the game after just two minutes. A Theodor Gebre Selassie header from a corner was saved on the line by Bernd Leno.
Volland nets rebound from Brandt strike
The Werkself quickly recovered from the early fright. Bremen lost possession in front of their own box and Julian Brandt immediately seized the chance to shoot from 18 yards out. His strike hit the underside of the bar and bounced down onto the goal line. Kevin Volland reacted first and rose highest to head the Werkself into the lead on seven minutes.
The Werkself then struggled against a well-organised defence and sharp challenges from Werder. The visitors were undaunted by going behind and succeeded in getting into the game. However, chances were at a premium: A shot from Robert Bauer on 17 minutes went wide of the target.
Equally, there was little threat up front from Korkut’s team. That changed on the half-hour mark. A long-range effort from Wendell was tipped over the bar by the Werder keeper Felix Wiedwald. Both Karim Bellarabi (40’) and Julian Baumgartlinger (44’) failed to extend the lead for the Werkself. Bayer 04 took a narrow lead into the half-time break.
Bellarabi misses chance to make it 2-0
The Werkself made an impressive start to the second half. Four minutes after the restart, Bellarabi had another opportunity to double the lead. Wiedwald was able to keep out his low drive with his foot.
Alexander Nouri’s team then came into the game more and more and looked the better side in front of a capacity crowd at the BayArena – without creating a clear-cut chance. Zlatko Junuzovic missed the best chance for the Green and Whites on 58 minutes when the ball slipped away from him and struck the body of Benjamin Henrichs.
On 66 minutes there was an unfortunate collision involving Leno and Gebre Selassie. The Werkself number one was left sprawling on the turf with a bloody nose. He was treated for several minutes but was able to carry on.
Wendell sees red, Toprak misses penalty in added time
Werder Bremen continued to press forward in search of the hosts’ goal. The Werkself had another strike on goal from Kevin Kampl on 75 minutes. Four minutes after that, the visitors drew level with a goal from substitute Claudio Pizarro. The Bremen striker deflected the ball past a helpless Leno with his knee to make it 1-1.
There was excitement and drama in added time: Already on a yellow card, Wendell tackled Bremen’s Eggestein late and was dismissed for a second bookable challenge. With seconds to go, referee Tobias Stieler awarded Bayer 04 a penalty after Eggestein brought down Henrichs from behind. Bayer 04 captain Ömer Toprak was unable to crown an impressive display as Wiedwald was easily able to save his spot-kick to win a point for the visitors.
Bayer 04 are back in action in the Champions League on Wednesday (20.45 CET) - away to Atlético Madrid in second leg of the Round of 16 tie. The next Bundesliga fixture for the Werkself is away to TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday 18 March (15.30 CET).
Match stats
Bayer 04: Leno – Henrichs, Dragovic, Toprak, Wendell – Baumgartlinger, Kampl – Bellarabi (Havertz 64’), Brandt (Mehmedi 74’) – Volland, Chicharito (Kießling 81’)
Werder Bremen: Wiedwald – Gebre Selassie (Pizarro 77’), Sané, Moisander, Bauer – Vejkovic, Eggestein – Junuzovic (Kainz 90’), Grillitsch(Delaney 67’) – Kruse, Bartels
Goals: 1-0 Volland (7’), 1-1 Pizarro (79’)
Booked: – / Gebre Selassie, Pizarro
Sent off: Wendell (90’, second yellow)
Key moment: Wiedwald saves Toprak penalty (90’)
Referee: Tobias Stieler (Hamburg)
Attendance: 30,210 (capacity)
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