Classy Karaman leads Düsseldorf past Bremen

Fortuna Düsseldorf 4-1 Werder Bremen
Goals: 1-0 Raman (1’), 2-0 Karaman (22’), 2-1 Kruse (pen. 28’), 3-1 Hennings (56’), 4-1 Suttner (73’)

Düsseldorf had a flying start when Benito Raman struck after only 49 seconds. Markus Suttner’s cross from the left found the Belgian on the edge of the box, and after linking up with Rouwen Hennings he slotted home his 10th goal of the campaign. Bremen had been involved in an epic DFB Cup semi-final against Bayern Munich in midweek, and after being caught cold by Raman’s goal they looked leggy early on. Düsseldorf centre-back Kaan Ayhan headed over before Karaman broke to score one of the goals of the season midway through the half. The Turkey international picked up the ball in his own half and – having already left two defenders in his wake – he dummied a shot inside the box to leave two more Bremen players for dead before finishing past Jiri Pavlenka.

Ayhan almost made it three from a free-kick but shortly afterwards he took down Davy Klaassen for a penalty that Bremen skipper Max Kruse converted. Sebastian Langkamp then called Michael Rensing into action, before Nuri Sahin hit the bar with another header from a corner for the visitors before half-time. Düsseldorf lost Raman and his replacement Aymen Barkok to injury before the hour, but it would matter little with Karaman in supreme form. His brilliant right-wing centre allowed Hennings to volley home after a quiet start to the second half. Theodor Gebre Selassie, Yuya Osako and Kruse all threatened to pull one back but instead Suttner smashed home a fourth on a memorable day for the home side.

• Karaman got his second goal of the campaign on what was only his seventh start of the season.
• Raman has joined Dodi Lukebakio as Fortuna's top scorer this season on 10 Bundesliga goals. The Belgian also found the net 10 times in the 2017-18 campaign to help Düsseldorf win Bundesliga 2.
• Düsseldorf have now scored more goals against Bremen (73) than any other club in the Bundesliga.
• Bremen had lost just one of their past 11 Bundesliga games with Fortuna, in November 1996, though the last time they won in Düsseldorf was in 1991.
• When Bremen coach Florian Kohfeldt was born on 5 October 1982, Düsseldorf coach Friedhelm Funkel was already playing his fifth Bundesliga season.
• Werder top scorer Kruse got his 11th goal of the season. He has now scored against all the current Bundesliga clubs during his career.

Düsseldorf: Rensing – Zimmermann, Ayhan, Hoffmann, Suttner – Raman (Barkok 36') (Kownacki 52'), Stöger, Bodzek (c), Karaman, Hennings – Lukebakio (Gießelmann 71')
Unused subs: Drobny, Morales, Ducksch, , Kaminski
Out: Contento (cruciate ligament), Fink (ankle), Sobottka (groin), Zimmer (ankle)
Coach: Friedhelm Funkel

Bremen: Pavlenka – Gebre Selassie, Langkamp, Moisander, Augustinsson (Harnik 80') – M. Eggestein, Sahin, Klaassen (Möhwald 59') – J. Eggestein (Osako 46'), Kruse (c), Rashica
Unused subs: Kapino, Pizarro, Sargent, Friedl
Out: Bargfrede (thigh), Bartels (thigh), Veljkovic (suspended)
Coach: Florian Kohfeldt