It was a wild game in which Werder Bremen looked like the winner after taking a 2-0 lead. But then Eintracht Frankfurt struck back to make the final score 2:2 (1:0). Frankfurt remained in seventh place (18 points), Bremen climbed to 12th place with eleven points.
Werder, who started with the same starting eleven for the third time in a row, kept Eintracht busy early on. The Hessians hardly had any space for their attacks from the strong running Bremen team from the center line.
Koch injured – Eintracht is missing central development players
Robin Koch, who had such an excellent start to the season, was sorely missed by the Hessians in this zone – the central defender with national team potential will be missing from Eintracht for at least three weeks due to a torn muscle fiber.
Playful elements right up front – that’s what both of them missed in the early stages. In the 18th minute, Werder shot at the Eintracht goal for the first time through Romano Schmid – but well over. On the other side, Omar Marmoush, who was on the rise, almost had a top-class shot – but the Egyptian’s shot from ten meters was just deflected into a corner by Marco Friedl.
Good fan support, weak game
The game sputtered along – the brilliant support from the Bremen fans from the stands was probably the most noticeable thing in an almost boring game at this stage. Until Werder launched a great counterattack in the 35th minute.
After a Frankfurt corner was defended, Leonardo Bittencourt was sent steeply – his shot from 18 meters whizzed just past the left post.
Knauff wrestles, Ducksch scores
When everything was leading to a goalless first half, Werder still took the lead: In stoppage time of the first 45 minutes, Marvin Ducksch converted a penalty after Ansgar Knauff had stopped a Bremen counterattack with a grab in his own penalty area against Jens Stage. It was a tough but perhaps justifiable decision from referee Benjamin Brand – Bremen led 1-0.
Five minutes after the restart there was time for great emotions: Rafael Borré, a striker on loan from Eintracht, put Werder ahead 2-0. Bittencourt had crossed smoothly, Borré was in the right position and headed in from close range to make it 2-0.
Frankfurt strikes back
A preliminary decision? Not at all! The Frankfurters, who had completed a trip to the far north to Helsinki on Thursday, used their reserves. And it was Ellyes Skhiri who brought his colors back into the game in terms of results. The Tunisian took the measure 23 meters in front of the goal and sank a precise shot to make it 2-1.
Frankfurt was now on fire. Attack after attack rolled towards the Werder goal. That brought the equalizer: In the 75th minute, Marmoush hit a perfect free-kick cross in front of the Werder goal. Tuta headed in and Hrvoje Smolčić, replacing Koch, scored with a perfect header to make it 2-2.
Götze has the winning goal on his head
Werder was now wobbling dangerously – and Eintracht had two great chances to score the winning goal. Marmoush shot just past the right from eight meters, and the Werder defense was only able to scrape a header from substitute Mario Götze off the goal line with great difficulty.
But Werder could also have scored to win. In the 90th minute, Ducksch found his match from close range in Eintracht keeper Kevin Trapp. So it remained a draw.
Werder against Leverkusen, Frankfurt welcomes Stuttgart
On matchday 12, Bremen will face Bayer Leverkusen at home (Saturday, November 25th, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.). Eintracht Frankfurt meets VfB Stuttgart in the top game (6.30 p.m.).