Klaassen saves point for Bremen against Stuttgart

Goals: 0-1 Zuber (2’), 1-1 Klaassen (45’)

US youngster Josh Sargent was handed his first start for Bremen, who began the day six places and 16 points better off than their visitors, but it was Stuttgart who raced into an early lead, with Zuber latching onto Mario Gomez’s header before finishing low past Jiri Pavlenka. Gomez nearly went from maker to taker minutes later with a similar chance, but having also found the legs to sprint clear of Bremen’s high defensive line, he was forced wide by Pavlenka and the chance went begging. Zuber and Milot Rashica then exchanged shots which flashed wide. Bremen settled into their stride midway through the half, and although Zuber came close with another effort from the edge of the box, they began to dominate possession, with Maximilian Eggestein and Rashica blocked at close range in quick succession. Gomez was denied when one-on-one with Pavlenka once again towards the end of the half but it was the hosts who would have the final say before the interval, with Klaassen turning on the edge of the box and blasting home his first goal since October.

Stuttgart club captain Christian Gentner entered the fray at the start of the second half but struggled to get a foothold in midfield, with Rashica looking the most dangerous at the other end, poking and probing on the edge of the Stuttgart area. The Kosovan earned a free-kick with the hour-mark looming which he took ahead of Bremen captain Max Kruse, but his effort flew high of the goal. Sargent made way for Claudio Pizarro for the final half-hour as most of the traffic continued to flow against the Swabians. Rashica had a cross-cum-shot which found its way to Nuri Sahin at the back post, but the former Borussia Dortmund man’s sliding attempt was cleared off the line. Pizarro headed wide from a Rashica corner before Ron Robert-Zieler pulled off a wonder-save to deny Theodor Gebre Selassie, who had risen highest to meet a second dead ball from the attacker, and the sides had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

Watch: Klaassen frustrated after "one-sided" game

• Zuber’s opener was his second goal in six games since swapping Hoffenheim for Stuttgart in the winter transfer window.
• Scored seconds into the second minute, the goal would have been Stuttgart’s 16th inside the first 60 seconds of a Bundesliga game. The record of 15 remains tied between the Swabians and Bremen.
• Klaassen has been involved in seven goals this season, but this was his first strike since Bremen beat Wolfsburg 2-0 on Matchday 7.
• Pizarro is highest scoring non-German in Bundesliga history with 195 goals. The evergreen Peruvian has scored league goals in 21 consecutive calendar years.
• Bremen have yet to win this season after falling, with their record now standing at five draw and seven losses after conceding first.

Bremen: Pavlenka – Gebre Selassie, Langkamp, Moisander, Agustinsson – M. Eggestein, Sahin (J. Eggestein 72’), Klaassen (Möhwald 84’) – Kruse (c), Sargent (Pizarro 61’), Rashica
Unused subs: Kapino, Veljkovic, Friedl, Mbom
Out: Harnik (muscular), Johannsson (ankle), Osako (groin)
Coach: Florian Kohfeldt

Stuttgart: Zieler – Beck, Pavard, Kempf (Gentner 46’), Insua – Ascacibar, Castro – Esswein, Kabak, Zuber (Badstuber 81’) – Gomez (c) (Donis 58’)
Unused subs: Grahl, Sosa, Didavi, Thommy
Out: Gonzalez (suspended), Baumgartl (concussion)
Coach: Markus Weinzierl