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Squad news: Ole Werner made two changes to the starting eleven from last week. Mitchell Weiser, who was suspended last game, came back into the line up, as well as Miloš Veljković. Werder’s new signing Maximilian Philipp was in the squad for the first time.
Starting eleven: Pavlenka – Jung, Stark, Pieper, Stage, Ducksch, Weiser, Bittencourt, Füllkrug, Veljkovic, Groß.
The bench: Zetterer – Philipp, Salifou, Schmid, Dinkci, Schmidt, Buchanan, Gruev, Chiarodia.
Well-balanced first half
Highlights from the first half:
8th minute: Reus is one on one against Pavlenka and shoots. Werder’s number one stands strong and saves. The goal wouldn’t have counted, however, as referee Brych blows for offside.
19th minute: Ducksch comes down the left-hand side and plays the ball into the penalty area to Füllkrug. He has space to shoot but the shot is blocked.
21st minute: Füllkrug dribbles through the Dortmund ranks and finds Weiser on the right side, who immediately crosses into the penalty box. Ryerson is there, who tries to clear and the ball goes just over his own goal. The resulting corner is taken quickly and comes to Weiser, who hits the ball first time on the volley. Kobel manages to save again.
32nd minute: Weiser crosses from the right-hand side and it comes to Füllkrug, who has to find his way past a few Dortmund players. He dribbles towards the goalline and tries to find a teammate to cross to, but Dortmund gather the ball.
37th minute: Werder go forward again! Füllkrug carries the ball forward well and plays to Weiser, whose cross comes back to Füllkrug, and he misses the goal by centimetres.
38th minute: After winning the ball back in midfield, the visitors have a good chance; Can’s shot goes just wide of the left post.
42nd minute: A Ducksch free kick ends up with Weiser, who can take the ball towards the Dortmund goal. Kobel, however, is ready and gathers safely.
Dortmund score twice
Highlights from the second half:
46th minute: Pavlenka is there again! Bellingham hits a long ball to Reus, who beats Stark and shoots. The Werder goalkeeper is alert, however, and saves strongly.
51st minute: The next cross-field ball comes to Bellingham, who controls the ball in style and can dribble towards goal. Pavlenka makes an outstanding save and clears.
53rd minute: Weiser and Schlotterbeck clash heads and both have to be treated. It doesn’t seem serious for Schlotterbeck and the Dortmund player gets back up. Weiser remains on the ground and receives treatment. After a few minutes, he returns to the pitch with a bandage around his head.
59th minute: Weiser plays the ball brilliantly to Ducksch, who once again looks for Füllkrug. Süle is able to get in between and clear the ball.
61st minute: Schmidt carries the ball forward outstandingly and passes to Ducksch, who is alone in front of Kobel and hits the post! Werder’s number seven was offside, however, and the goal wouldn’t have counted.
67th minute: The substitute Jamie Bynoe-Gittens scores for Borussia Dortmund to make it 1-0.
77th minute: Brandt finds himself on his own in front of Pavlenka, takes the ball around him and only has to tap in. Pieper rushes in just in time to clear the ball off the line for a corner, which comes to nothing for the visitors.
82nd minute: Schmidt plays the ball to Füllkrug and passes superbly to Ducksch, who hits the side-netting. Kobel could only stand and watch.
84th minute: This time Pavlenka is powerless. Julian Brandt scores for Borussia Dortmund to make it 2-0.
90th+5 minute: Bellingham tries a low shot into the bottom right corner, but as so often Werder’s number one is there and saves.
90th+6 minute: Full time. Borussia Dortmund beat SV Werder Bremen 2-0.
Summary: Dortmund won an overall well-contested and fast-paced match. Werder grew into the game more and more after the first minutes and had several chances to take the lead. But the visitors combined well on numerous occasions through the Werder ranks, and fell short due to an outstanding Pavlenka, who kept Werder in the game more than once. In the second half, Dortmund were able to use their quality and decided the game with two goals.
Well-balanced first half
Highlights from the first half:
8th minute: Reus is one on one against Pavlenka and shoots. Werder’s number one stands strong and saves. The goal wouldn’t have counted, however, as referee Brych blows for offside.
19th minute: Ducksch comes down the left-hand side and plays the ball into the penalty area to Füllkrug. He has space to shoot but the shot is blocked.
21st minute: Füllkrug dribbles through the Dortmund ranks and finds Weiser on the right side, who immediately crosses into the penalty box. Ryerson is there, who tries to clear and the ball goes just over his own goal. The resulting corner is taken quickly and comes to Weiser, who hits the ball first time on the volley. Kobel manages to save again.
32nd minute: Weiser crosses from the right-hand side and it comes to Füllkrug, who has to find his way past a few Dortmund players. He dribbles towards the goalline and tries to find a teammate to cross to, but Dortmund gather the ball.
37th minute: Werder go forward again! Füllkrug carries the ball forward well and plays to Weiser, whose cross comes back to Füllkrug, and he misses the goal by centimetres.
38th minute: After winning the ball back in midfield, the visitors have a good chance; Can’s shot goes just wide of the left post.
42nd minute: A Ducksch free kick ends up with Weiser, who can take the ball towards the Dortmund goal. Kobel, however, is ready and gathers safely.
