Haller to the rescue for Frankfurt in Bremen

Bremen 2-2 Frankfurt
Goals: 1-0 M. Eggestein (27’) 1-1 Rebic (35’) 2-1 Harnik (52’) 2-2 Haller (pen. 68’)

In an encounter ripe with end-to-end entertainment, Maxi Eggestein opened the scoring in the 27th minute to ensure that Werder remain the only side to score in all of their Bundesliga matches this season. Receiving the ball on the edge of the box, the 22-year-old pulled off a lovely pivot to take three Frankfurt defenders out of the play and fire his team into the lead. Not to be outdone, Rebic produced his own moment of magic to level the scores just eight minutes later, deceiving the Bremen defence with a slick feint before curling home from the edge of the box. The home side could still have taken a lead into the break, but Maxi Eggestein hit the upright and his younger brother Johannes could only find the arms of Kevin Trapp when well placed.

The second half picked up where the first left off and spectators were not made to wait long for another goal. Martin Harnik, who assisted Werder’s first, latched onto a beautiful pass from Max Kruse and held off his marker, poking the ball beyond Trapp while darting past the keeper to collect the ball and roll it into the empty net. Frankfurt fought hard to get back on level terms and once again had Rebic to thank when the Croatian carried the ball into the box and drew a handball from Ludwig Augustinsson. Haller stepped up to the spot and made no mistake to set up a thrilling close to the match. Bremen had more chances, but both clearly wanted the three points and played out 20 minutes of end-to-end football in which neither was ultimately able to find a winner.

• Werder remain the only team to score in every match this season and have netted in each of their last 20 Bundesliga outings – currently the longest run in the league.
• Eggestein’s opening goal was his fifth of the season and broke a goalscoring drought that had lasted ten matches.
• He also registered the most shots on goal (six) of any player and led his side with 34 challenges, winning 71 per cent.
• Rebic’s goal took his tally for the season to seven goals, his personal best and one more than he managed in the whole of the 2017/2018 Bundesliga season.
• With 11 goals and eight assists, Haller has had a direct hand in more goals than any other player in the Bundesliga in 2018/19.
• Haller has converted all five spot kicks he has taken in the Bundesliga this season. This means that he also perfect record of 20/20 penalties scored throughout his career.

Line-ups

Bremen: Pavlenka – Gebre Selassie, Langkamp (Veljkovic 37’), Moisander, Augustinsson – M. Eggestein, Bargfrede, Klaassen – Harnik (Sargent 69’), J. Eggestein (Pizarro 86’), Kruse (c)
Unused subs: Kapino, Möhwald, Sahin, Friedl
Out: Bartels (Achilles), Beste (ankle), Jacobsen (adductor), Johannsson (ankle), Osako (Asian Cup), Schmid (military service)
Coach: Florian Kohfeldt

Frankfurt: Trapp – Abraham (c) (Russ 67’), Hasebe, Falette – Da Costa, Rode (Stendera 87’), De Guzman (Gacinovic 63’), Kostic – Rebic – Haller, Jovic
Unused subs: Rönnow, N’Dicka, Willems, Paciencia
Out: Allan (knee), Chandler (knee), Fernandes (suspended), Torro (pelvis)
Coach: Adi Hütter

Watch: Haller: "We have to improve our weaknesses"