10-man Dortmund draw in Bremen

Werder Bremen 0-0 Borussia Dortmund
Red card: Schlotterbeck (73')

It was lively from the outset at the Weser-Stadion, and Bremen went on the front foot early on. They should have taken the lead after 11 minutes when Romano Schmid darted into the box and forced Gregor Kobel into a fine save, with Jens Stage side-footing the rebound wide from close range. It was evenly balanced after that, although BVB summer recruit Waldemar Anton very nearly produced a specatuclar opener with a brilliant piece of control and a shot on the turn that whistled wide. Marvin Ducksch was denied by Kobel just before the interval, while Julian Brandt drilled an effort wide with Dortmund’s best chance following a clever cutback from Julian Ryerson. 

Defences were on top for much of the second half, although the introduction of Karim Adeyemi with half an hour left injected renewed impetus into Dortmund’s attack. The Germany international went close with a thumping left-footed effort from 20 yards before Nico Schlotterbeck forced Michael Zetterer into a smart save following a free-kick. The complexion of the game changed in the 73rd minute when Schlotterbeck was sent off for a second yellow card after bringing down Justin Njinmah on the edge of the Dortmund penalty area, with Ducksch striking the resulting free-kick into the wall. That was as close as Bremen came to a winner, however, as BVB shut up shop for the remainder of the game to hold on for a hard-earned point.

• Ducksch made his 100th Bundesliga appearance here – his first six were in Dortmund colours – having also played his 100th competitive game for Bremen last weekend.
• Schlotterbeck was sent off for just the second time in his Bundesliga career. The first game while at Union Berlin in February 2021.
• The last time Dortmund failed to score in Bremen was in May 2011 - they had scored in their subsequent 24 visits until today.
• None of the previous 55 Bundesliga meetings between these teams in Bremen had ended 0-0.
• Dortmund coach Nuri Şahin played 36 Bundesliga games for Werder.
• Borussia are unbeaten in their last nine league visits to the Weserstadion (W6, D3).

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Watch: Groß: "We will get better"

Bremen: Zetterer - Stark, Friedl (c), Jung - Weiser, Lynen, Stage, Agu - Schmid, Njinmah (Topp 82') - Ducksch (Grüll 90')
Unused subs: Backhaus, Deman, Malatini, Bittencourt, Hansen-Aarøen, Alvero, Burke
Out: Keïta (not included), Pieper (thigh), Veljković (knock)
Coach: Ole Werner

Dortmund: Kobel - Anton, Süle (Bensebaini 57'), Schlotterbeck - Ryerson, Can (c), Groß, Gittens (Adeyemi 57') - Sabitzer, Beier (Malen 71'), Brandt (Nmecha 77')
Unused subs: Meyer, Lotka, Mané, Reyna, Duranville
Out: Couto (muscular), Guirassy (knee), Wätjen (knee)
Coach: Nuri Şahin

Watch: Kobel: "A really good defensive performance"