Werder – Schalke 5-1 – highlights

Here are the highlights of the latest Werder match:

Schalke Drubbing Delights Schaaf

Despite a very bright start form the visitors, the home side raced into a 2-0 lead with goals from Baumann and Sanogo before Kevin Kuranyi pulled one back for the Königsblauen before half time.

Three unanswered second half goals from Markus Rosenberg  and an Ivan Klasnic double inflicted Schalke’s heaviest defeat of the season to round off a disappointed week for them following their Champions League exit.

“I am delighted with the result, but we shouldn’t forget that the season is not yet over” Werder trainer Schaaf said after the final whistle.

“We still have a number of tough tasks ahead of us, and have a very difficult match on Tuesday against Rostock.

“The important thing is to go into that game just as concentrated as we did today against Schalke.”

Today’s victory puts Werder in a great position to secure Champions League football next season.

source: goal.com

Bundesliga Round-Up: Werder Hammer Schalke, Hamburg Slump To Duisburg

Werder Bremen crushed Schalke 5-1 at the Weser Stadion in the day’s top game to reclaim second, while Hamburg lost 1-0 at home to relegation threatened Duisburg.

Hannover beat Frankfurt with ten men, whereas Energie Cottbus climbed a little further away from the relegation zone with a 1-0 home win over fellow strugglers Bielefeld.

Hansa Rostock beat Karlsruhe and Bochum claimed a point away to Hertha Berlin.

Werder Bremen 5-1 Schalke

Karlsruhe 1-2 Hansa Rostock

Bochum 1-1 Hertha Berlin

Hamburg 0-1 Duisburg

Hannover 2-1 Eintracht Frankfurt

Energie Cottbus 1-0 Arminia Bielefeld

Werder Bremen 5-1 Schalke

The match of the day certainly lived up to it’s billing in a highly entertaining attacking game at the Weser Stadion.  The home side ended up winning 5-1, which was probably a little harsh on the visitors.

The opening 15 minutes belonged to Schalke, but hit them with two goals through Baumann and Borowski.  Kevin Kuranyi pulled one back just before half time.

The second half however saw Werder fire in three unanswered goals from Rosenberg and an Ivan Klasnic double to seal an emphatic win, which sends them back into second place above both Schalke and Hamburg.

Karlsruhe 1-2 Hansa Rostock

Hansa Rostock clinched a deserved away win over Karlsruhe with a very good performance at the Wildparkstadion.  The first half belonged to the home side but then after the break the visitors took control and ran out 2-1 winners.

The North coast side took the lead in the first half with a goal from Fin Bartels after half an hour.  A long ball was flicked on by Kern and Bartels latched onto it before firing past Miller in the KSC goal.

The home side managed to grab an equaliser in the second half when they scored against the run of play in the 74th minute.  Freis was given too much room in the centre after a Kennedy cross and scored from eight meters out.

The visitors were however rewarded for a fine showing with the winner on 84 minutes.  Bartels crowned a fine individual display by grabbing his second of the game after being set up by substitute Pearce.

Bochum 1-1 Hertha Berlin

The points were shared at the Olympiastadion as Hertha and Bochum finished at 1-1.

The home side took the lead after 28 minutes with Rudi Skacel firing in a direct free kick.  The Czech midfielder fired past Jan Lastuvka from a wide right position with André Lima making a nuisance of himself in the area.

However, the visitors managed to get themselves back on level terms just before half time with Anthar Yahia heading home an Azaouagh free kick leaving Jaroslav Drobny little chance.

It continues to be the case that Hertha cannot win without Marko Pantelic in the side.

Hamburg 0-1 Duisburg

Duisburg climbed off the bottom of the table with a shock 1-0 win over Hamburg at the HSH Nordbank Arena as HSV’s poor form continued and they dropped out of the Champions league places.

A very lethargic Hamburg deserved to lose in a game in which they struggled against a relegation threatened side.

The only goal of the game came in the second half via Ivica Grlic in the 54th minute as he latched onto a Lamey throw-in before firing in a slightly deflected shot past Frank Rost.

Hannover 2-1 Frankfurt

Hannover had to deal with another sending off, but ran out 2-1 winners to dent Frankfurt’s chances of qualifying for Europe this season.

The away side took the lead after 27 minutes when Marco Russ fired home after a Frankfurt corner.  However, the lead lasted less than ten minutes with Sergio Pinto grabbing the equaliser with a fine finish from the edge of the area.

The Portuguese forward was then sent off on the hour mark after reacting angrily to a foul on him by Toski.  The referee dished out a straight red card, despite the fact he had been booked earlier.

Dieter Hecking’s side hung on and surprisingly grabbed the winner through Christian Schulz with just one minute remaining.

Energie Cottbus 1-0 Arminia Bielefeld

Energie Cottbus condemned Arminia to the bottom three with a 1-0 home win at the Stadion der Freundschaft.

The win was sealed thanks to a second half penalty from Ervin Skela which continues his recent fine run of scoring form.  The win sees Energie move four points clear of the drop zone, but pushes Bielefeld deeper into trouble.

source: goal.com

5:1 Werder wallop Schalke to take second spot

Werder Bremen cruised past direct competitors FC Schalke 04 with a 5:1 win on the 28th match day of the Bundesliga season to make what is a vital step towards the direct qualification for the Champions League. Frank Baumann and Bouacar Sanogo got the scoring started for the home side in the first half before Markus Rosenberg and Ivan Klasnic (2) put the game well and truly beyond the visitors. Kevin Kuranyi got what was Schalke’s consolation goal in the first period to make the half time score 2:1.

A crowd of 42,100 at the Weser Stadium saw the visitors make an impressive start and put the home side under some serious pressure in the first quarter hour but fail to make the breakthrough they so desperately sought. From out of nowhere, Frank Baumann rose to meet a delivery from Petri Pasanen after 19 minutes to head the Green-Whites into a 1:0 lead. Schalke shook off the disappointment of the set-back and continued to seek their fortune in attack but were foiled at the last by Tim Wiese in the Werder goal on more than one occasion. With 33 minutes gone, Werder then doubled their lead thanks to a powerful header by Boubacar Sanogo.

Shortly before the break, the guests were back in the game though when Kevin Kuranyi broke away from his marker to convert with a header from a corner to throw the game open again before half time. It would take until the hour mark, in a game littered with chances, before the Green-Whites could finally pull away from Schalke. Tim Borowski put in a perfect cross from the left which Markus Rosenberg anticipated well to time his run and make it 3:1, with yet another headed goal. Six minutes later, Werder threatened to really embarrass their guests but Manuel Neuer in the Schalke goal got a hand up to make a fantastic save from Sanogo. The Schalke keeper could do little in the 76th minute though to prevent Thomas Schaaf’s men notching up their fourth as substitute Ivan Klasnic finished off an excellent move with a goal.

Despite having a three goal lead, the Green-Whites hunger for goals wasn’t yet stilled and in the final minute, Klasnic broke through again on the right and slotted home to make it 5:1 and definitively sink Schalke. Over long periods of the game, the visitors proved impressive but the ultimate efficient and cool Werder performance in front of goal proved enough to claim the big points in the battle to take second place and guarantee a place in next seasons Champions League. On the day, Werder Bremen took all three points to move above the ‘Royal Blues’ and gain the psychological advantage as the season races towards its close.

Werder Bremen: Wiese – Fritz, Mertesacker, Naldo, Pasanen – Baumann, Frings, Borowski (60‘ Hunt), Diego (86‘ Özil) – Rosenberg (60‘ Klasnic), Sanogo; on the bench: Vander, Owomoyela, Niemeyer, Vranjes

FC Schalke 04: Neuer – Westermann (73‘ Rafinha), Bordon, Krstajic, Pander – Ernst, Jones, Streit, Sanchez (65’ Lövenkrands) – Halil Altintop (60’ Asamoah), Kuranyi; on the bench: Schober, Höwedes, Grossmüller, Larsen

Goals: 1:0 Baumann (19’), 2:0 Sanogo (33’), 2:1 Kuranyi (42’), 3:1 Rosenberg (59’), 4:1 Klasnic (76’), 5:1 Klasnic (89’)

Yellow cards: Borowski, Rosenberg, Frings, Sanogo – Streit, Jones

Referee: Manuel Gräfe (Berlin)

Attendance: Weser Stadium 42.100

source: werder.de

Werder Reclaim Second Spot With Schalke Win

Today’s Bundesliga offering at the Weser Stadion proved to be superb advertisement for German football with six goals shared between two teams chasing a Champions League spot.

Five of those goals fell to the home side as they leap-frogged the Königsblauen into second place.  In a game full of chances, goals from Baumann, Sanogo and Rosenberg along with a double from substitute Ivan Klasnic sent Werder fans home happy.

Schalke’s consolation came via the head of Kevin Kuranyi.

First Half

The away side made a bright start inside the Weser Stadion with two good chances within the opening three minutes.

A good counter attacking move from Schalke saw Ernst finally playing in Albert Streit who forced Tim Wiese into a fine save from a tight angle.  The resulting corner saw Bordon send in a dangerous header that had to be dealt with by the Werder keeper.

On six minutes Christian Pander curled in a dangerous free kick that flew just wide from around 30 minutes to cap a fine opening for Mirko Slomka’s side.  Werder were really not in the game in the opening minutes.

The next big chance fell to the visitors on eight minutes.  Schalke countered again quickly from a Werder corner and had a three on two situation.  Jones laid the ball square to Altintop after Tim Wiese had come flying out of his goal.

Rather than shooting into the empty net, the Turkish forward tried to beat Clemens Fritz and the full back cleared the danger.

When Werder’s first real chance did arrive, it fell to the wrong player with Naldo firing well over the bar after a poorly cleared Werder corner fell to him inside the penalty area.

Despite the very positive start made by the away side it was Werder who then took the lead after 19 minutes.  Diego forced a save from Manuel Neuer that brought a corner.

The resulting cross was cleared, but with the Schalke defenders slow to push up, Petri Pasanen lofted the ball back into the area, where Werder captain Frank Baumann was on hand to head past Neuer.

The Königsblauen had another good chance on 22 minutes but Altintop took the wrong option again.  He would have done better to play in Sanchez, but he chose to shoot from a tight angle and Wiese gathered without much trouble.

In a very open game, Werder should really have taken a two-goal lead on 25 minutes.  Sanogo was given too much space down the right hand side and fed Diego, who missed the fine corner by inches with his effort from the edge of the six-yard box.

The supporters inside the Weser Stadion were certainly getting value for their money with the chances coming thick and fast at both ends.

On 28 minutes the ball arrived at Altintop from the left, but Tim Wiese was out to smother as the Turk look set to fire home.  Shortly afterwards Pander fired in a dangerous looking shot from 30 meters that had to be saved by Wiese.

A second goal seemed just a matter of time and it was Werder Bremen who scored it after 33 minutes.  A super piece of play on the left from Diego brought Borowski into the game.  The midfielder crossed into the penalty area where Sanogo beat Bordon to the header and scored to break his own personal goal drought.

The catalogue of missed chances for the visitors continued on 41 minutes with Vicente Sanchez wasting a glorious opportunity after being played through on goal.  Albert Streit showed his disgust that the Uruguayan didn’t square the ball to him as the away side continued to waste he chances that came their way.

However, within a minute Schalke grabbed a deserved goal via the head of Kevin Kuranyi.  The German international nodded home from close range after a well flighted Streit corner.

Second Half

If the fans thought all the chances had come in the first half and that the second period would be a little tighter, they were wrong with Schalke racing out of the starting blocks and almost scoring 20 seconds into the second period.

Sanchez cut the ball back to Ernst in the area after a storming start from Schalke but the defensive midfielder saw his effort blocked by Frank Baumann just short of the goal line.

Four minutes in and Diego left Jermaine Jones standing before firing wide of Neuer’s goal.  Three minutes later and the Brazilian got the better of the Schalke midfielder again and was even closer with his effort that missed the target by a hair’s breadth.

Then on the hour mark, the Green and Whites extended their lead with Markus Rosenberg heading in from close range after Diego had played the ball in and Borowski latched onto it and crossed for the Swede to nod home to make it 3-1.

Manuel Neuer produced a fantastic reaction save on 64 minutes to keep his side in the game as he pushed Naldo’s header over the bar with a split second one-handed save.

Despite the two goal lead for Thomas Schaaf’s side, Schalke were giving up and first Kuranyi forced Wiese into a save with a header from an Asamoah cross.

However the win was well and truly secured for the home side when substitute Ivan Klasnic stroked home Werder’s fourth goal after 76 minutes.

Gerald Asamoah lost the ball up front and Bremen counter-attacked superbly.  Diego sent is a glorious pass to Klasnic who converted with just Neuer to beat to heap more woe on Schalke.

The visitors looked like they could be on the end of a real thrashing when Diego fed Frings on 82 minutes.  The midfielder’s cross found Sanogo whose header seemed goal-bound before Neuer came to the rescue.

However, the debacle materialised on 89 minutes with Ivan Klasnic scoring his second and Werder’s fifth of the game.  He skinned Mladen Krstajic on the right bye-line before stroking the ball past Neuer from a tight angle.

Today’s match had been billed the game of the day and it certainly lived up to that.  Both teams attacked at will and the 5-1 result was perhaps a little harsh on Mirko Slomka’s side but it seemed that Werder took every chance that came their way, whilst Schalke wasted most of theirs.

Goals:

1-0  Baumann (19)

2-0  Sanogo (33)

2-1  Kuranyi (41)

3-1  Rosenberg (59)

4-1  Klasnic (76)

5-1  Klasnic (89)

Werder Bremen: Wiese, Fritz, Mertesacker, Naldo, Pasanen, Baumann, Frings, Borowski (Hunt 60), Diego (Özil 86), Rosenberg (Klasnic 60), Sanogo

Schalke: Neuer, Westermann (Rafinha 73), Bordon, Krstajic, Pander, Ernst, Jones, Streit, Altintop (Asamoah 59), Sanchez (Lövenkrands 65), Kuranyi

source: goal.com

Diego Flattered By Madrid Link

The twenty-three year old Brazilian is a player in high demand this summer, with a number of top European clubs linked with moves for him, and although Diego is aware of Real Madrid’s interest, he treaded carefully on the subject when questioned by AS.com

“It is difficult for me to speak of Madrid if Madrid does not speak of me… yes a lot of things have been said, mainly as a result of Schuster saying that he appreciated my game and that it would he would like to have me in his team,” he explained.

“But since then there has been nothing. I must take good care when speaking about Madrid because my words can be taken negatively in Germany. However, it is clear that it is nice to be recognised as a top player by such a coach.”

Robinho

Diego originally made his name at Santos alongside current Madrid player Robinho and he looks back fondly the days they spent together at the club.

“Two children were dominating the world of adults. They were great times with a lot of joy and we played together to win the championship,” he recalled.

Robinho has been out of favour in recent weeks, but Diego puts in down to injury rather than a loss of form.

“I speak with him and I know that it is an abdomen problem that slowed him down a little, but he continues to be one of Madrid’s best players,” he asserted.

Wait For The Summer

Despite declarations from his father and agent to the press, indicating that a number of clubs want to take him on board for next season, Diego is content to focus on helping Werder achieve their goals and will then speak to the club in the summer to decide his future.

“The president said to me that we would speak at the end of the season… I have never said that I am unhappy at Werder Bremen and I am not desperate to leave, although that it is truth that many clubs have shown an interest.

“It is not the time to solve things yet. For me it is good that great clubs wish to contract me, but I am very centered on my work at Werder. Madrid are a great club, as are Barcelona, Chelsea or Juve. All are important clubs, but right now my mind is focused on the important moment we have reached at Werder,” he concluded.

source: goal.com

Slomka: Werder Game Could Be Decisive

Second place Schalke travel North to face fourth place Werder Bremen with just one point separating the two sides.  The game takes place just three days after Schalke’s disappointing Champions League exit, but trainer Mirko Slomka has his sights firmly set on a win at the Weser Stadion.

“As we have said repeatedly over the last few weeks, we want to finish the season in a position that entitles us to play in the Champions League again next year” Slomka explained.

“If we can manage a win, it could prove to be a decisive step towards qualifying for the Champions League” he said.

“I expect to come up against a Bremen side that will put us under a lot of pressure in a bid to claim all three points.  We’ve always done well against Werder in the last few years” he explained.

Last season the visitors managed a 2-0 win with both goals coming from winger Peter Lövenkrands.

“Bremen like to push up, which leaves space for us to exploit.  They’ll go flat out from the start and are known for creating lots of chances.  So our defence will have to be up to the challenge” he added.

source: goal.com

Frustration for Almeida – Özil gets his chance

Werder Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf will have to make do without the services of striker Hugo Almeida for tomorrow’s clash with FC Schalke 04. During Friday’s final pre-match training session, it was clear that the Portuguese international was struggling with muscular problems in his hip area: “He won’t be able to play against Schalke. We hope that he will be back again sometime next week”, explained Schaaf following the session.

The coach will also have to make his plans without Sebastian Boenisch and Daniel Jensen (both suffering from thigh muscle tears). The forced changes could mean the chance for a further Bremen attacker to show just what he is capable of. Mesut Özil made the move from Schalke to the Weser in January and will be in the squad to face his former team-mates on Saturday: “I’m really looking forward to it. I hope that I get the chance to play – that would be a really big event for me”, commented Özil full of anticipation.

source: werder.de