Enlarge image
After almost an hour, Niclas Füllkrug asked for his replacement in pain
Photo: IMAGO/nordphoto GmbH / Teresa Kroeger / IMAGO/Nordphoto
SV Werder Bremen won their home game against Schalke 04 2-1 (1-0).
A lot of luck on the defensive helped Bremen in the duel between the two promoted teams - and top scorer Niclas Füllkrug, who scored the lead against Gelsenkirchen at the bottom with his 10th goal of the season (29th minute), but was unable to end the game .
Marvin Ducksch contributed the second Bremen goal (76th).
Dominick Drexler could only shorten (89th).
While Schalke remain bottom of the table with six points, Werder now have 21 points and are seventh in the table, just one point behind the places that qualify for European competitions.
It could have gone very differently for the Green-Whites: In the first quarter of an hour, Schalke were much more dangerous in the second game under coach Thomas Reis.
Marius Bülter failed early on due to Jiri Pavlenka, who prevented Bremen from falling behind with a foot defense (3rd).
The guests kept up the pressure, won the important duels and supposedly scored a goal through a deflected shot by Alex Král.
Because Kenan Karaman had previously been offside, the goal was withdrawn.
Gradually, Werder also got into the game better - and used the first strong attack to make it 1-0: Mitchell Weiser prevailed on the right wing, who put his heel back on the approaching jug.
The center forward, who is a hot candidate for a place in the German squad for the World Cup in Qatar after the injury to RB Leipzig's Timo Werner, put Werder in front with a sharp shot (30').
With a bit of luck, Werder saved the lead at half-time, S04 striker Simon Terodde hit the post with a header (38').
Füllkrug has to leave the field injured
After the break, Schalke continued to play forward.
At the last moment, Amos Pieper tackled a shot from Král (54'), but because Miloš Veljković had previously had his arm on the ball, Schalke were awarded a free kick 18 meters from the goal.
While Werder's filling pitcher deflated without any risk of scoring, he was already gesticulating in the direction of the bench: the goalscorer had injured himself in a duel and was no longer able to sprint at full speed.
Werder coach Ole Werner brought Oliver Burke into the game (60').
The hapless Schalke strikers were often the center of attention: Pavlenka parried a volley from Teroddes, but a goal would not have counted anyway due to an offside position (61').
Král again forced Pavlenka to save (66'), Schalke settled in the Bremen penalty area - and conceded the next goal: A fine lob from Ducksch overcame Alexander Schwolow, the game was decided (76'), Drexler's goal came too late ( 89.).
cev
