Werder Bremen managed to stay up in the Bundesliga. On the penultimate match day, a draw against 1. FC Köln was enough.
The Cologne lead by Steffen Tigges (36th minute) was equalized by Romano Schmid (73rd). Due to the draw, Bremen is out of the fight for relegation with 36 points.
Werder and Cologne start strong
Both teams had started strongly, but after the first quarter of an hour the respectable level dropped noticeably. The Cologne lead fell out of nowhere: Florian Kainz brought the ball from the right to the six-yard box, where Steffen Tigges defended himself against the only half-hearted Miloš Veljković and nodded off from close range.
Because that was also the position at the break, there were even occasional whistles from the ranks. Because there was nothing to be seen from the home side offensively, the Cologne team dominated the game for long stretches of the first half and thus deserved the lead.
Bremen tried to equalize after the break
Werder coach Ole Werner reacted to the disastrous first half with two changes and brought on Schmid and Christian Groß. Just three minutes later another swap was due, Mitchell Weiser had to leave the pitch with groin problems.
But the uncertainty among the hosts continued, the whistles got louder. Coach Werner had little choice but to applaud halfway successful actions by his protégés. “The players who came off the bench were certainly decisive in that we had a different energy on the pitch in the last quarter of an hour,” said Werner.
Cologne fails to extend the lead
Werder tried to assert themselves offensively. But against Cologne, who acted slowly, that brought little danger. On the other hand, the guests miss to catch up: A teamwork between substitute Davie Selke and Dimitris Limnios ended in a cross pass instead of a dangerous shot on goal (70th).
So it happened as it had to happen: Jens Stage initially missed a huge chance to equalize (71st). And then later Werder’s Romano Schmid (73′) met, who lurked at the back post for a cross and pushed the ball over the line.
In the closing stages, the Cologne team gradually regained control of the game and had a good opportunity through Selke (84′). But in the end not much happened – and so this duel will be there again in the next season of the Bundesliga.
Bremen at the old forester’s house
On Matchday 34, SV Werder Bremen is a guest at 1. FC Union Berlin (Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.). At the same time, 1. FC Köln welcome record champions Bayern Munich.
For Bayern it’s about the title – Cologne “only” has the last home game of the season. FC goalscorer Tigges is really up for this game, he said on the Sportschau microphone: “If we can help Dortmund to be at the top, everyone will be happy.”