Rashica brace fires Bremen to much-needed win over Wolfsburg

Wolfsburg 2-3 Werder Bremen
Goals: 0-1 Rashica (pen. 13'), 1-1 Weghorst (36'), 1-2 Bittencourt (39'), 2-2 William (73'), 2-3 Rashica (83')

Without a win since beating Union Berlin in September, Bremen survived an early scare when Joao Victor headed a William cross against the top of the crossbar. Victor spurned Wolfsburg's next attempt, but not before Rashica had fired Werder in front from the penalty spot following a handball against Josuha Guilavogui, confirmed following consultation with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Wolfsburg deservedly equalised when Wout Weghorst applied the finishing touch to John Brooks' knockdown following a corner, though parity lasted all of three minutes. Leonardo Bittencourt got his head on Ludwig Augustinsson's fine cross to send Bremen in at the break with their noses in front.

Guilavogui had made Jiri Pavlenka work late in the first half, and Wolfsburg continued to dominate the possession count after the restart. Jeffrey Bruma put the ball in the net just past the hour, but the Wolfsburg defender was deemed - again via the VAR - to have been a fraction offside when he met Maximilian Arnold's in-swinging free-kick. William tested Pavlenka from close range, before levelling matters with a sumptuous first-time strike. Maximilian Eggestein ballooned over from 12 yards following great work by Bremen substitute Josh Sargent, but made amends with a superb assist for Rashica to crown an incisive counter. Pavlenka pushed a Weghorst effort onto the woodwork in added time as Werder held on for a priceless victory.

• Werder were on their worst run since head coach Florian Kohfeldt succeeded Alexander Nouri as coach in October 2017.
• Rashica scored his third Bundesliga brace, all coming in the current campaign. Werder's top scorer has converted his last three penalties, including two this season.
• Bremen scored from each of their three attempts on target.
• Weghorst is Wolfsburg's leading marksman with seven. The Dutchman scored with his first shot on goal, and has found the net in his last three competitive games.
• Bittencourt scored in successive games for only the second time in his career.
• Bremen have been awarded a league-high five penalties so far in 2019/20.

Watch: Rashica: "I want to continue like this"

Wolfsburg: Casteels – Knoche (Ginczek 72'), Bruma, Brooks – William, Guilavogui (c), Arnold, Roussillon – Mehmedi (Brekalo 60'), Victor (Steffen 84') – Weghorst
Unused subs: Pervan, Klaus, Gerhardt, Mbabu, Schlager, Rexhbecaj
Out: Camacho (ankle), Tisserand (suspended), Malli (back)
Coach: Oliver Glasner

Bremen: Pavlenka – Gebre Selassie, Veljkovic, Groß, Augustinsson – M. Eggestein, Bargfrede (Sargent 76'), Klaassen (c) – Bittencourt (Lang 86'), Osako (Pizarro 78'), Rashica
Unused subs: Kapino, Langkamp, Sahin, J. Eggestein, Friedl, Goller
Out: Füllkrug (torn ACL), Möhwald (knee), Toprak (calf), Moisander (calf), Bartels (match fitness)
Coach: Florian Kohfeldt