90'
+ 3
THANKS AND GOOD NIGHT!
That brings our coverage of Matchday 28's action to an end, and what a weekend it's been! Bayern are back on top, Frankfurt took a step closer to the Champions League and Hoffenheim's late push for Europe continues. See you all again next week for more Bundesliga goodness!
90'
+ 3
SPOILS SHARED
The whistle goes to end an entertaining match, and it's Bremen that will feel happier with a share of the points. They stay withing sight of the European places, but the Foals will reflect on two points dropped and the now four-point gap to Frankfurt in fourth.
Full-time
90'
+ 3
BACK UNDERWAY
Both sides have plenty to play for, in Gladbach's case a potential spot in next season's Champions League, and they've started this half positively. Plea nicks possession in the Bremen half and almost plays in Hazard, but there's not enough care on the pass and Pavlenka snaffles it.
90'
+ 2
PAVLENKA THWARTS HAZARD!
The Belgian collects a deep cross, cuts inside and shoots low towards the near post through the defender's legs. Pavlenka's strong hand palms it away!
87'
Substitution
86'
FOALS MISSING AN OPPORTUNITY
A look at the table shows how costly these two dropped points may be for Gladbach, who trail Eintracht Frankfurt in fourth by four points with six to play as things stand. Can they rouse themseleves for one last push?
85'
WILL THERE BE A WINNER?
Werder will sense this game is there for the taking now, and Kohfeldt is to be commended on his substitutions, with Osako and Claudio Pizarro having made a difference since being introduced. Incidentally, Bremen have come back to take at least a point in a game on seven occasions already this season, more often than any other side in the division.
84'
Substitution
82'
WILL THERE BE A WINNER?
Werder will sense this game is there for the taking now, and Kohfeldt is to be commended on his substitutions, with Osako and Claudio Pizarro having made a difference since being introduced. Incidentally, Bremen have come back to take at least a point in a game on seven occasions already this season, more often than any other side in the division.
79'
KLAASSEN EQUALISES!
Bremen make the most of those misses from Neuhaus and level things up with an excellent goal, Klaasen making an excellent run to glance a header in from ten yards from Osako's cross! They've dug deep and worked hard in the second half and probably deserve that leveller.
78'
Substitution
76'
NEUHAUS AGAIN!
The goalscorer almost has a second of the day but he volleys over first-time from Christoph Kramer's lofted pass. He then has another good chance but side-foots over!
76'
Substitution
72'
SOMMER DOUBLE-SAVE!
Werder are turning the screw here and they sense a goal. Milot Rachica whacked one wide a few moments ago but this one is on target and draws a very good save from Sommer, with the Swiss reacting well to hold Kruse's follow-up header.
69'
KRUSE DENIED, JOHNSON OFF TARGET!
Better from the away side! Davy Klaassen schemes on the egde of the box and lays one across for Kruse to curl one goalwards. Sommer is alert and tips it over. Moments later, Pavlenka is almost caught in possession on his own penalty area! The ball flies loose and the substitute Fabian Johnso volleys towards the target, only to see the ball drift wide.
66'
Substitution
60'
BREMEN LACKING A SPARK
The first goal was likely to be key and Bremen will feel hard done by that Kruse's untimely slip led to it, particularly considering the former Gladbach player has had a good game today. Yuya Osako is on for the visitors and they look to be gaining a foothold with some possession, though they haven't troubled Sommer since that early chance for Johannes Eggestein.
53'
BORUSSIA TAILS ARE UP
The fans have come alive after that goal and every one of the Gladbach players looks to have a spring in their step. Plea tries his luck from the edge of the box and is very close indeed, the ball landing on top of the net with the goalkeeper nowhere.
52'
Substitution
50'
BREAKTHROUGH!
Relief for Gladbach, who have the goal their performance merits! Max Kruse loses possession with an untimely slip and Nico Elvedi steals the ball. The Werder Bremen defence are disorganised after Kruse's error and Elvedi releases Florian Neuhaus, the youngster advancing on the 'keeper and forcing the ball home from an angle.
Kick-off!
Half-time
45'
+ 1
HONOURS EVEN
Gladbach have done most of the running so far but Bremen's rearguard has been solid, and they will feel there is a goal to be had against a rather nervous-looking Foals side. Join us shortly for the second half.
35'
HAZARD SHOOTS WIDE
The home side are getting closer here. Thorgan Hazard is screaming for the ball on the left-hand side of the box and when he finally gets it, he curls it wide of the near post. Moments before, Plea went down in the box under a challenge from Ludwig Augustinsson, but the referee waved play on.
28'
PLEA GOES CLOSE!
More great work from Zakaria, who bursts through three challenges and is off and running at the Bremen defence. He takes his time and finds Plea to his left, the Frenchman taking a touch and curling a low shot narrowly wide of the target. On the touchline, Bremen boss Florian Kohfeldt please for his players to show more calmness.
24'
HERRMANN STRIKES THE WOODWORK
This is more encouraging for Gladbach! Alassane Plea and Zakaria combine well and the latter is steaming down the left wing towards the penalty area, where he plays a low cross into the box. Patrick Herrmann meets it at the far post but the angle is tight and his shot hits the outside of the post and out for a goal kick.
19'
DFB CUP DRAW MADE
While this game is going on, the draw for the semi-finals of the DFB Cup has been made and the result is that Bremen will host the table-toppers Bayern Munich, while Hamburg entertain Leipzig.
16'
FAMILIAR PATTERN
Bremen have fallen back into a defensive shape early on and will look to play on the break in the knowledge that the Foals have conceded more goals on the break in the league this season. And they almost take the lead out of nothing, but Johannes Eggestein is denied by Yann Sommer!
5'
RAFFAEL HESITATES!
Gladbach have started well and Raffael looks like he's in on goal against Pavlenka, but he hesitates under the bouncing ball and the goalkeeper collects! The Brazilian was perhaps a little rusty there on his first start in 2019.
4'
HAZARD FIRES THE FIRST SHOT...
...but it's harmless, rolling well wide of Jiri Pavlenka's left-hand post.
2'
UNDERWAY!
The whistle goes in a cauldron of an atmosphere and we're up and running for Matchday 28's curtain closer!
Kick-off!
ANY MINUTE NOW…
We're just moments away from kick-off! The teams are in the tunnel and about to take to the pitch. With an average of 3.2 goals per game over the last five meetings, we should be in for an entertaining 90 minutes!
KRUSE BETTER THAN EVER
Bremen's hopes of victory today rest largely on the shoulders of captain and top scorer Max Kruse. The 30-year-old has been in sensational form of late, registering six goals and three assists in his last four games to keep the team in contention for European football next season. A win here would pull Werder level with sixth-placed Wolfsburg on 45 points - just two behind Gladbach.
HEAD TO HEAD
Gladbach might not be at their best right now but recent history suggests they're the favourites to win here. The Foals are unbeaten in their last six Bundesliga meetings with Bremen, winning five and drawing one, while they have not lost at home to Bremen in the league since October 2010. Werder do have the upper hand overall, though, with 40 wins, 22 draws and 38 defeats from the 100 matches the teams have played to date.
BREMEN ON FIRE
The visitors, by contrast, are in fine form coming into this game. They have won their last three on the spin - scoring 10 goals in the process - and are unbeaten in their last 10. Furthermore, they're one of only two teams left in Europe to have found the net in every league match this season (PSG are the other).
THE STAKES
Gladbach find themselves in an unusual situation, with this their first game since sporting director Max Eberl announced that head coach Dieter Hecking would be leaving in the summer. Will that play on his players' minds? At any rate, they have struggled to find their best form of late, winning just one and losing four of their last seven league outings. The Foals are still fifth in the table, however, but need to return to winning ways to maintain their push for European football next term.
GLADBACH STARTING XI
Sommer – Ginter, Elvedi, Strobl – Herrmann, Neuhaus, Kramer Zakaria – Hazard, Raffael, Plea SUBS : Sippel, Stindl, Wendt, Johnson, Hofmann, Jantschke, Cuisance
BREMEN STARTING XI
Pavlenka – Gebre Selassie, Langkamp, Moisander, Augustinsson – M. Eggestein, Sahin, Klaassen – J. Eggestein, Kruse (c), Rashica SUBS: Kapino, Pizarro, Möhwald, Osako, Harnik, Veljkovic, Friedl
Welcome along to the match centre for the game M'gladbach vs. Bremen from matchday 28 of the 2018/19 Bundesliga season at the BORUSSIA-PARK. Check back here for full information on the match.