During the first 40 minutes of the game, VfB found it extremely difficult to get a grip on the game and found themselves caught out at the back on a number of occasions but again and again, Werder attacks were foiled by the heroics of Sven Ulreich in the VfB goal. Markus Rosenberg, Marko Arnautovic and Lukas Schmitz all tried their luck but could find no way past Ulreich. It took until shortly before the half time whistle before Bruno Labbadia’s men got a good sight of goal. Okazaki narrowly failed to connect with a Harnik cross, as did Pogrebnyak from a Molinaro delivery. With Werder keeper Wiese denying firstly Hajnal and then Serdar Tasci, the sides went in at the break with the score locked at 0-0.

Naldo’s 108 km/h drive sinks Stuttgart

VfB made the more lively start to the second period but, with Labbadia’s men pushing forward, Werder hit on the counter attack and took the lead. Clemens Fritz played through to Aaron Hunt, who got past Boulahrouz with some fortune and slotted the ball home to make it 1-0 for the hosts. Bremen had their tales up and went close again through Rosenberg before Naldo then doubled the Bremen advantage with a venomous 108 km/h free kick from 17 meters out, which nestled in the top corner of Ulreich’s net – 2-0 (66’).