Werder Bremen 1 : 1 Hoffenheim - Bremen held again

Posted Sunday, August 31, 2014 by PA

Werder Bremen were held to their second 1-1 draw of the season by Hoffenheim, who extended their unbeaten start to the campaign.

Roberto Firmino put the visitors in front after 19 minutes, but after Alejandro Galvez brought Bremen level on the hour mark, the hosts took charge of the game.

They struck the woodwork twice but were unable to find a winner at the Weser Stadion.

Bremen started the better with Franco di Santo seeing his shot blocked on the counter-attack in the 15th minute.

Four minutes later, Hoffenheim took the lead when the Bremen defence was caught napping.

Sebastian Rudy launched a ball from deep which Firmino picked up around the back of the Bremen back line, nudging the ball first past Raphael Wolf before tucking it into the unguarded goal.

Hoffenheim posed a consistent threat on the break, but they wasted a good chance to double their advantage in the 37th minute when, with a five-against-three situation, Adam Szalai lifted his cross behind for a goal kick.

Bremen drew level on the hour mark when new signing Galvez took advantage of a slip by Tarik Elyounoussi to take Eljero Elia's cross down on his chest before sweeping the ball in with his left foot.

The goal appeared to remove Bremen's shackles and bring back bad memories for Hoffenheim, who had one of the leakiest defences in the league last season.

Santiago Garcia sent a header onto the outside of the post before Nils Petersen struck the crossbar.

Former Bayern Munich forward Petersen then had a claim for a penalty turned down as Bremen tried but failed to find a winner.