Highlights
D. Aytekin
90'
+ 4
110% support
Schalke's fans have not stopped singing, but their team has lost.
Full-time
90'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
89'
Terodde will take it!
It may be a defeat for Schalke, but at least Terodde gets his goal, getting his toe end to Churlinov's low drive for something of a consolation on a personal and team level.
86'
Substitution
86'
Substitution
© IMAGO/nordphoto GmbH / Rauch/IMAGO/Nordphoto
79'
No hat-trick
Ducksch's day is over: two goals, two shots against the post and, probably, three points earned.
79'
Substitution
79'
Substitution
74'
Bremen actually below par
Goal attempts
12off target
1on target
7off target
7on target
71'
Schalke 04
Schalke's last 4-0 home defeat came against local rivals Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga in February 2021.
71'
Substitution
67'
At least one goal deserved
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
0
1.36
2.17
4
Goals
66'
Such support
Schalke's fans are waving their flags and showing total support, despite the scoreline. Fantastic scenes, but can they still inspire a recovery?
63'
Substitution
61'
Substitution
56'
Hat-trick on?
Shots
2
5
Marius Bülter Marvin Ducksch
56'
There where it matters
53'
Double Ducksch
This. Is. Incredible! Ducksch benefits from another deflection, and certainly he has put Bremen out of sight now.
53'
Substitution
51'
Ducksch drills in!
Could that be the decider? Ducksch drills in a shot, with the aid of a deflection, after Füllkrug cuts the ball back. The Schalke defence is all at sea, and Bremen are sailing away with this.
48'
Ducksch against the post again!
Ducksch hits the woodwork for the second time, this time curling a free-kick round the wall and striking the base of the right-hand upright.
46'
Back underway
Can Schalke turn this around? They've brought on Churlinov for Drexler, who has perhaps made way due to the yellow card he picked up in that first half, and Schalke certainly do not want to have to fight back with ten men.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 2
Substitution
© Joosep Martinson/Getty Images
45'
+ 2
Ruthless guests
Half-time
43'
Ducksch close to third!
That could have been a third for Bremen with Ducksch clean through, but a last-gasp lunge gets a deflection in to prevent him from putting Bremen out of sight.
42'
Flag up again!
Zalazar whips the ball in and Pavlenka just manages to paw it away. Before a Schalke player can pick up the rebound, the offside flag is up.
© Joosep Martinson/Getty Images
39'
Getting closer
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
0
0.79
1.6
2
Goals
33'
Drexler offside!
Schalke have the ball in the back of the net, but the offside flag is raised and it does not count - VAR confirms that the on-field decision was correct.
33'
SituationNo goal
ReviewOffside?
DecisionNo goal
30'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
28'
Almost a third!
Another hole in the Schalke defence and Ducksch fires against the post!
27'
Killer corners!
That's another goal from a corner for Bremen! Like with their first, too much space is afforded to Weiser on the edge of the area and he swings the ball into the box for Füllkrug, who needs no invitation to put it away!
26'
SituationGoal
ReviewOffside?
DecisionGoal
24'
Anybody's game
Goal attempts
5off target
0on target
1off target
4on target
© IMAGO / Kirchner-Media
21'
Like father, like son
Gruev's father, also called Ilia, netted 11 goals in Bundesliga 2 for MSV Duisburg, and now his son's got in on the act.
18'
Terodde...offside
The first big chance of the game for Terodde, who has just Pavlenka to beat but pokes the ball straight at the Bremen custodian. The flag goes up so it would not have counted anyway.
As things stand
© DFL
14'
Schalke pressing
Possession (%)
6040
12'
Green Gruev
That was Gruev's first goal in Bundesliga 2 and actually - in his 26th competitive game for Bremen - his first direct involvement in a goal.
9'
Gruev in the right place!
Bremen take the lead from the first corner of the game, with the ball falling to Weiser, whose shot is only parried by Fraisl to Gruev, who accepts the gift from close range to nod Bremen in front!
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
8'
Good response
Schalke have responded well from that close call and have had a few shots on Pavlenka's goal, albeit without causing the Bremen goalkeeper any problems.
3'
Füllkrug chance!
Füllkrug nearly gives Bremen a flying start, latching onto a long ball from deep and lobbing it past the Schalke keeper before being closed down by a defender and missing the target, although the offside flag goes up anyway.
1'
Off we go!
Schalke are shooting to the right in this first half, away from their most passionate supporters, whom they will look to bring plenty of joy to in the second half.
Kick-off!
Full house!
The teams emerge to a full house here, over 62,000 fans in the Veltins Arena, including almost 7,000 from Bremen. What. An. Atmosphere!
Words from Büskens
"Ducksch and Füllkrug are combining well together and they complement each other well. They don't need many touches to get into a shooting position and have proven their worth. But we're not going to start calculating [what we need to go up], we'll just focus on ourselves and, in the end, see where we end up."
Two for me, two for you
Bremen also make two changes compared to the draw with Nuremberg last weekend, with Ilia Gruev and Mitchell Weiser coming in for Christian Groß and Milos Veljkovic, who are both out injured.
Two changes for Schalke
Compared to their 5-2 win over Darmstadt last weekend, Andreas Vindheim and Victor Palsson come into the starting XI for Henning Matriciani and Danny Latza, It's Vindheim's first start since Matchday 20.
Werder starting XI
Pavlenka - Friedl, Gruev, Jung - Weiser, Rapp, Agu - Schmid, Bittencourt - Füllkrug, Ducksch
Schalke starting XI
Fraisl - Vindheim, Thiaw, Kaminski, Calhanoglu - Itakura, Palsson - Drexler, Zalazar - Terodde, Bülter
2:29
Rich history
1:09
Previous meeting: Bremen 1-1 Schalke
Promotion six-pointer
Schalke are top of the table on 56 points, with Bremen - who were relegated alongside the Royal Blues last season - just two points back in second. Both are hoping for an immediate top-flight return, but Bremen could be leapfrogged by St. Pauli if they lose and the Hamburg outfit beat Darmstadt in Saturday's late kick-off.
More on Bremen's line-up
Bremen are without a pair of veteran centre-backs in captain Ömer Toprak and Milos Veljkovic. Anthony Jung drops back into the back three with Felix Agu taking his usual spot on the left flank.
More on Schalke's line-up
There are two changes from the Schalke side that thrashed Darmstadt 5-2 last Sunday.
Iceland international Victor Palsson comes into midfield for Danny Latza, while Andreas Vindheim is preferred to Henning Matriciani at right-back.
Bremen CONFIRMED starting XI
BREMEN: Pavlenka - Rapp, Friedl, Jung - Gruev - Weiser, Schmid, Bittencourt (c), Agu - Füllkrug, Ducksch
SUBS: Zetterer, Mai, Schönfelder, Nankishi, Schmidt, Mbom, Assale, Woltemade, Dinkci
OUT: Toprak (calf), Vlejkovic (calf)
COACH: Ole Werner
Schalke CONFIRMED starting XI
SCHALKE: Fraisl - Vindheim, Thiaw, Kaminski, Calhanoglu - Palsson (c), Itakura - Drexler, Bülter, Zalazar - Terodde
SUBS: Fährmann, Lode, Sane, Matriciani, Churlinov, Latza, Flick, Idrizi, Aydin
OUT: Langer (knee), Lee (ankle), Ouwejan (muscular), Pieringer (cheekbone)
COACH: Mike Büskens