Sargent strikes, but Bremen held by Hertha

Werder Bremen 1-1 Hertha Berlin
Goals: 1-0 Sargent (7'), 1-1 Lukebakio (70')

Making his 17th Bundesliga appearance, Sargent struck his second goal of the season to give Werder an early lead. A deflection off Dedryk Boyata helped the USMNT international's shot from just inside the area beat Rune Jarstein with just six minutes on the clock of a game Bremen had dictated since the start. They continued to hold the upper hand with only Vladimir Darida – who ran half a mile more than any of his teammates in the first half – doing his utmost to get Hertha into dangerous positions, albeit unsuccessfully as Ante Covic's team struggled.

They emerged from the restart with a greater sense of urgency about their game, but it was Bremen who had the first clear view of goal in the second half, with Milot Rashica shooting straight at Jarstein after an hour. Jarstein came to Berlin's rescue again just a few moments later when Leonardo Bittencourt threatened a second, but Bremen's one-goal lead was made to look very slender indeed when Darida's dipping effort landed on the roof of Jiri Pavlenka's goal. Lukebakio then used all his strength and skill to hold off three markers before angling a shot into the far corner to bring the Old Lady level and extend their unbeaten run to four matches.

• Werder have taken the lead within the first ten minutes of four out of eight games this season.
• Maximilian Eggestein's assist for Sargent's goal was his first direct involvement in a goal this season.
• After providing an assist in each of his previous two substitute appearances, Lukebakio scored his first goal from the bench this season.
• Three of Hertha's goals this season have come from substitutes.
• Werder are unbeaten in 12 Bundesliga games against Hertha (W5, D7), which is their longest current run against any team.
• At home the record reads nine wins and three draws in the last 12 Bundesliga meetings since a 3-0 loss in March 2006.

Bremen: Pavlenka – Gebre Selassie, Veljkovic, Groß, Friedl – M. Eggestein, Sahin (Bargfrede 81'), Klaassen (c) – Bittencourt, Sargent (J. Eggestein 74'), Rashica (Pizarro 87')
Unused subs: Kapino, Lang, Langkamp, Goller
Out: Augustinsson (knee), Bartels (knee), Füllkrug (torn ACL), Möhwald (knee), Moisander (calf), Osako (thigh), Toprak (match fitness)
Coach: Florian Kohfeldt

Hertha: Jarstein – Klünter, Boyata, Rekik, Mittelstädt – Skjelbred (Torunarigha 90'), Grujic – Wolf, Darida, Dilrosun (Lukebakio 56') – Ibisevic (c) (Selke 77')
Unused subs: Kraft, Kalou, Duda, Köpke, Plattenhardt, Covic
Out: Löwen (knee), Maier (knee), Stark (gashed leg)
Coach: Ante Covic

Watch: Sargent: "We'll see how things go"