Ten-man Borussia Dortmund squander two-goal lead as Werder Bremen clinch dramatic draw
Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in a match filled with drama, including a red card and a remarkable comeback. Serhou Guirassy starred for Dortmund, who played with ten men for most of the game.
Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Werder Bremen
Goals: 1-0 Guirassy 28' (assist: Brandt), 2-0 Friedl o.g. 51', 2-1 Bittencourt 65' (assist: Veljković), 2-2 Ducksch 72' (assist: Stage)
Sent off: Schlotterbeck 21'
In a match that epitomised the unpredictable nature of football, Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at Signal Iduna Park. The fixture came at a crucial time for both sides, with Dortmund winless in 2025 and under the guidance of interim coach Mike Tullberg following Nuri Şahin's dismissal. Bremen, led by Ole Werner, entered the match seeking their first victory of the calendar year, setting the stage for a high-stakes encounter.
Dortmund defy odds after early setbacks
The match began with an early blow for Dortmund as Felix Nmecha was forced off due to injury in the 12th minute, replaced by Marcel Sabitzer. The situation worsened in the 21st minute when Nico Schlotterbeck was shown a straight red card for a foul on Marco Grüll. However, despite these setbacks, Dortmund managed to break the deadlock in the 28th minute. Serhou Guirassy, capitalising on excellent work from Julian Ryerson and Julian Brandt headed home from close range to give the ten men an unlikely lead.
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VAR drama and Bremen's comeback
The hosts' resilience was further rewarded in the 51st minute when a shot from Guirassy deflected off Marco Friedl for an own goal, doubling Dortmund's advantage. The goal underwent a VAR check for a potential offside but was ultimately awarded. Bremen, spurred on by their numerical advantage, mounted a spirited comeback. Leonardo Bittencourt, introduced as a substitute, reduced the deficit in the 65th minute with a spectacular long-range effort that flew into the top corner. The momentum had shifted, and just seven minutes later, Marvin Ducksch completed the comeback. The Bremen striker, picked out by an excellent pass from Jens Stage, calmly slotted past Gregor Kobel to level the scores at 2-2.
A tale of two halves
The match statistics tell the story of a game of two distinct phases. Despite playing with ten men for over 70 minutes, Dortmund managed to maintain 49% possession and create quality chances, as evidenced by their slightly higher xG of 1.52 compared to Bremen's 1.3. However, Bremen's numerical advantage showed in their superior shot count (14 to 8) and pass accuracy (84% to 79%). The intensity of the contest was reflected in Dortmund's higher sprint count (235 to 207), highlighting their extra effort to compensate for the red card.
Player of the Match: Serhou Guirassy
In a match filled with standout performances, Guirassy emerged as the player of the match. The Dortmund forward not only scored the opening goal but also played a crucial role in forcing the own goal that put his ten-man side 2-0 up. His ability to lead the line effectively and create chances while his team was a man down was instrumental in Dortmund securing a point from a challenging situation.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Dortmund 1.52 - Bremen 1.3
Fastest player: Justin Njinmah (Bremen), 33.71 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 2-1 by Leonardo Bittencourt (Bremen), 4.35 percent
Most pressed player: Romano Schmid (Bremen), 27 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Miloš Veljković (Bremen), +3.28
Fantasy Heroes: Miloš Veljković (Bremen, 264 Points), Julian Brandt (Dortmund, 223 Points), Romano Schmid (Bremen, 232 Points)
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