Burke Bremen's hero as hosts foil Stuttgart

Werder Bremen 2-2 VfB Stuttgart
Goals: 1-0 Füllkrug 4' (assist: Jung), 1-1 Endo 38' (assist: Ahamada), 1-2 Silas 77' (assist: Kalajdzic), 2-2 Burke 90'+5 (assist: Weiser)

Bremen were brimming with confidence on their Bundesliga return last week, the recently promoted side pushing Wolfsburg all the way in a thrilling 2-2 draw. On target against the Wolves on Matchday 1, Werder's in-form forward Niclas Füllkrug was back among the goals here early on, the 29-year-old powering Anthony Jung's brilliant centre from the left high into the corner of the net with a bullet header. Füllkrug formed a formidable partnership with Marvin Ducksch during the Green-Whites' successful promotion push last term and the latter went close to doubling Werder's lead with an angled, near-post shot that Florian Müller saved. Füllkrug then hit the crossbar with a neat shot as Pellegrino Matarazzo's side struggled. The visitors only managed a first shot on goal shortly after the half hour with Endo testing his range. Not long afterwards, the Japan international hit the bullseye in dramatic fashion with a long-distance screamer that left goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka swatting air.

Endo was Stuttgart's saviour on the last day of 2021/22 after his late goal secured Die Schwaben's Bundesliga safety. Inspired by their captain's heroics in this game, the away team took the challenge to Werder after the restart. Racing away on the break, Tiago Tomas cut in from the left before drawing a vital save from Jiri Pavlenka. Despite the custodian's touch, the ball edged goalwards and would have posed huge danger for Ole Werner's team had captain Marco Friedl not hacked away at the last. Duscksh bent a shot narrowly over the bar before the game swung back in Stuttgart's favour. Robbing possession out on the flank, VfB spread the play into the centre and by the time Sasa Kalajdzic gained possession, Bremen's defence was in big trouble. The Stuttgart forward's pass to Silas found the No.14 in acres of space and he finished with perfection to put the visitors in front. Soon afterwards, Silas missed a chance to put daylight between the teams. The miss would prove costly, with substitute Burke finding space inside the area in the closing seconds before poking a low finish past Müller to send the home supporters into raptures.

• Burke's only previous Bundesliga goal came with Leipzig during a 1-1 draw at Cologne on September 25, 2016.
• Endo has scored four times in his last 12 Bundesliga games.
• Silas scored his first Bundesliga goal since January 29, 2021 (in a 2-0 win against Mainz).
• VfB in their last game in Bremen by 2-1, with Silas twice on the scoresheet in that 2020/21 game.
• Füllkrug has scored on the opening two Bundesliga Matchdays for the first time in his career. The forward made his 100th Bundesliga appearance in this game.
• Bremen have scored at least a goal in all of their last 29 home games against Stuttgart, the Green-Whites' longest sequence against any team. However, Werder are now winless in their last six meetings with Stuttgart, (D2 L4).

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Bremen: Pavlenka – Pieper (Stark 46'), Veljkovic, Friedl (c) – Weiser, Bittencourt (Burke 84'), Gruev (Rapp 84'), Stage (Schmid 78'), Jung (Buchanan 84') – Füllkrug, Ducksch
Unused subs: Zetterer, Agu, Schmidt, Goller
Out: Dinkci (muscular), Groß (ill), Mbom (Achilles), Salifou (abductor)
Coach: Ole Werner

Stuttgart: Müller – Mavropanos, Anton, Ito – Vagnoman (Stenzel 69'), Führich (Egloff 70'), Endo (c), Ahamada, Silas (Karazor 81') – Kalajdzic (Pfeiffer 81'), Tomas (Sosa 59')
Unused subs: Bredlow, Mola, Millot, Perea
Out: Coulibaly (toe), Kastanaras (ankle), Nartey (ankle)
Coach: Pellegrino Matarazzo