Werder Bremen cling on for narrow victory over Mainz
Leonardo Bittencourt scored the only goal of the game as Werder Bremen - who ended the game with nine men - held on for a narrow victory over Mainz in the Matchday 20 opener.
Werder Bremen 1-0 Mainz
Goals: 1-0 Bittencourt (14')
Sent off: Stark (90'+3), Friedl (90'+4), Werner (90'+8)
In a pulsating Bundesliga encounter at the Weserstadion, Bremen edged out Mainz 1-0 in a match that had it all - missed penalties, crucial saves, and late drama. The victory denied Mainz an opportunity to climb to fourth in the table.
Bremen's bright start
The home side burst out of the blocks, with Romano Schmid hitting the post in just the second minute. Bremen's early pressure paid off when they were awarded a penalty in the 12th minute after Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner fouled Schmid. However, Zentner made amends by saving Marvin Ducksch's spot-kick. The reprieve was short-lived for Mainz, as Bittencourt broke the deadlock just two minutes later, firing home from close range after a corner wasn't properly cleared.
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Injuries and tensions rise
The jubilation for Bremen was short-lived as Bittencourt, the goalscorer, had to be substituted in the 36th minute due to an injury. Skelly Alvero came on to replace him. The first half also saw rising tensions, with Mainz coach Bo Henriksen receiving a yellow card in the 15th minute for his protests on the sideline.
Mainz fight back
The second half saw a resurgent Mainz side take control of the game. The visitors dominated possession and created several chances, with Nelson Weiper and Paul Nebel coming close to equalising. Bremen, however, remained resolute in defence. The match stats reflected Mainz's improved performance, with the away side ending the game with 58 percent of possession and 535 passes to Bremen's 318.
Dramatic finale
As the clock ticked down, the match became increasingly tense and physical. Bremen's resolve was severely tested in stoppage time when they were reduced to nine men. First, Niklas Stark received a second yellow card for time-wasting, quickly followed by Marco Friedl, who was also shown a second yellow for dissent. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Ole Werner's men managed to hold on for a crucial victory, showcasing remarkable defensive resilience in the face of intense Mainz pressure.
Player of the Match: Romano Schmid
While Bittencourt scored the decisive goal, it was Schmid who was the driving force behind Bremen's victory. The Austrian midfielder was at the heart of Bremen's best attacking moves, hitting the post early on and winning the penalty that could have opened the scoring. Schmid's energy and creativity were crucial in Bremen's strong start, and his work rate helped the team weather Mainz's second-half storm. The stats back up his impressive performance, with Schmid recording the most shots (four) for Bremen and reaching a top speed of 33.54 km/h, second fastest in the match.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Bremen 3.29 - Mainz 0.7
Fastest player: Dominik Kohr (Mainz), 33.6 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-0 by Leonardo Bittencourt (Bremen), 81 percent
Most pressed player: Paul Nebel (Mainz), 26 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Jae-sung Lee (Mainz), +4.14
Fantasy Heroes: Marco Friedl (Bremen, 237 Points), Romano Schmid (Bremen, 203 Points), Robin Zentner (Mainz 05, 201 Points)
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