Luckless Werder open CL campaign with a 0-0 draw

Werder Bremen had never managed to win their opening game in a Champions League campaign and there was to be no joy for the Green-Whites on Tuesday night at the Weser Stadium, as they took on rank underdogs Famagusta. Following a first period of constant pressure, trainer Thomas Schaaf’s side failed to create clear openings in the second half and after 90 minutes, the game finished disappointingly for Werder Bremen in a 0-0 draw.

There was just one change to the Werder starting eleven compared to the side which began against Cottbus at the weekend with Frank Baumann, who was suffering with a back problem, being replaced by Mesut Özil. Despite the loss of their captain, Werder started in concentrated fashion, and as the game progressed the Green-Whites enjoyed an increasingly larger amount of possession, without really creating many clear openings. The best openings of the first half fell to Claudio Pizarro, who had three chances to put his side in front in the first 45 minutes, but the Peruvian strikers luck was out and despite Werder clearly having the upper hand, the teams went into the break locked at 0-0.

Pizarro then had the first chance to open the scoring after the break as he turned a delivery from Diego goal-wards with a back-heeled flick but unfortunately the ball rolled out the wrong side of the post (53’). Werder had a great deal of difficulty creating clear chances and Thomas Schaaf reacted by introducing Sanogo in place of Rosenberg (57’) and, eight minutes later, Almeida for Pizarro. The Portuguese international had the best opening of the second half as he broke free in front of goal but slotted the ball wide of the target. In the end, the Green-Whites Group B start finished in a goalless draw, in spite of the home team having a 26:5 advantage so far as shots on goal were concerned. Thomas Schaaf’s men will have a chance to make up for tonight’s disappointment in the Champions League when they travel to Inter Milan on October 1st.
The game at a glance:

Werder Bremen: Wiese – Fritz, Mertesacker, Naldo, Boenisch – Frings – Özil, D. Jensen – Diego – Rosenberg (57’ Sanogo), Pizarro (65’ Almeida); on the bench: Vander Vranjes Pasanen Harnik Prödl

Anorthosis Famagusta: Beqaj – A. Constantinou, Katsavakis, Nikolaou, Leiwakabessy – Dellas – Bardon (70’ Tsitaishvili), Laban – Paulo Costa (46’ Taher), Savio – Sosin (58’ Panagi); on the bench: Nagy, Frousos, Samaras, Georgiou

Goals: –

Attendance: Weser-Stadion: 34.690

Yellow cards: Frings, Özil, Rosenberg, Almeida – Laban, Taher

source: werder.de