Werder can’t take their chances and lose to Leverkusen

Squad news: Ole Werner made three changes to the starting line-up compared to the game last weekend. Leonardo Bittencourt was absent at short notice due to illness, joining Marco Friedl and Christian Groß. The trio was replaced by Niklas Stark, Milos Veljkovic and Mitchell Weiser. The latter returned to the first team for the first time after his injury.

Starting eleven: Pavlenka – Jung, Stark, Pieper, Stage, Ducksch, Weiser, Füllkrug, Veljkovic, Schmidt, Gruev.

The bench: Zetterer, Philipp, Salifou, Dinkci, Buchanan, Dietrich, Berger, Chiarodia.

Ducksch first misses and then scores

Tony Jung crossing into the oppositions's penalty area

Werder had better chances, but had to accept a quick equaliser from the visitors (Photo: WERDER.DE).

Highlights from the first half:

5th minute: The home team is setting the tone so far, but the visitors manage to create their first chance. The ball ends up in the hand of Pavlenka, however, after Diaby had played in Adli.

15th minute: After Stark loses the ball, Leverkusen come down the right-hand side. Adli collects the ball at a tight angle and hits the side netting.

16th minute: Füllkrug goes forward well and finds Stage on the left, who passes the ball back to Ducksch. He tries to control the ball, but Leverkusen can stop the attack.

25th minute: Diaby is played in well with a long ball and Stark is able to close him down at the very last second, otherwise the Leverkusen player would have been through on goal.

29th minute: Ducksch receives the ball and shoots straight away, but doesn’t connect well and the ball goes wide.

30th minute: GOOALLL! Marvin Ducksch scores for SVW to make it 1-0! After a strong run by Stage, the ball ends up with Fülle, who passes well to his teammate, and Ducksch coolly puts the ball in the back of the net.

33rd minute: Hlozek carries the ball well and dribbles towards his international teammate Pavlenka. His shot goes just wide of the right post.

34th minute: Mitchell Bakker scores for Bayer 04 Leverkusen and makes it 1-1. He fires the ball into the top left corner and gave Pavlenka no chance.

43rd minute: Leverkusen make their way into Werder’s penalty area and have multiple attempts to take the lead. Finally, the ball ends up going past the left post.

Füllkrug’s goal isn’t enough

Werder couldn’t use their many chances and lost against Leverkusen (Photo: WERDER.DE).

Highlights from the second half:

47th minute: A Werder pass across the Leverkusen box gets through and ends up with Stage, who is one-on-one with Hrádecky, but he hits the ball over the goal.

53rd minute: Jung misplaces a pass on the edge of his own penalty area and finds an opponent, whose shot is blocked.

56th minute: Jeremie Frimpong scores for Bayer 04 Leverkusen to make it 2-1. The ball takes a big deflection and Pavlenka cannot reach it.

59th minute: Werder want an equaliser! Ducksch makes a strong run down the left and leaves three of the opposition behind him, but he can’t get past Hrádecky.

66th minute: Füllkrug comes down the left and moves past several Leverkusen players. He takes a shot, and Hrádecky has to stretch to make the save for a corner. After the shot is taken, there are shouts for a penalty, but referee Aytekin waves the Werder players away.

83rd minute: Adam Hlozek increases the lead for Bayer 04 Leverkusen and makes it 3-1. The visitors come in from the left and the deflected cross is headed in perfectly by Hlozek.

86th minute: Converted! Niclas Füllkrug runs up and scores from the penalty spot for SVW to make it 3-2.

90th minute: A free kick from Schmidt is over hit and heading for goal, but Hrádecky can comfortably catch the ball.

90+5th minute: Full time. SV Werder Bremen lose to Bayer 04 Leverkusen 3-2.

Summary: Werder created many chances and were not rewarded. For long periods of the game, SVW clearly had the upper hand and deserved to take the lead. Leverkusen were clinical and took advantage of their chances to score three goals and secure victory.