Niclas Füllkrug scores and Werder Bremen are free of all worries for the time being: The team of coach Ole Werner has taken a big step towards retaining the league with a home win against favorite opponents VfL Bochum. The Hanseatic prevailed on the 22nd matchday of the football Bundesliga 3:0 (2:0) against the chronically away weak and relegation-threatened Ruhrpott club and cracked the 30-point mark.
National player Füllkrug used the first real chance of the game for his 14th goal of the season (29th). After a long diagonal ball, Anthony Jung served the 30-year-old with his head and the scorer converted massively with a right shot. Also with the second goal of Niklas Schmidt before the break Jung provided the template (43.). After the change of sides, Marvin Ducksch increased by directly converted free-kick after a foul play on the strong Füllkrug (59.).
The hosts earned the success with a concentrated defensive performance and their efficiency in the offense. Thomas Letsch's far too harmless VfL once again left the Weserstadion disappointed and is in great danger with 19 points on a direct relegation place. Bochum won in February 2008 (2-1) only once in 34 Bundesliga appearances in Bremen.
Both coaches had tinkered with new starting formations before the weekend. Werner once again had to do without top preparer Mitchell Weiser. In addition, defense chief Niklas Stark was missing yellow-locked. For Letsch, the red card of captain and evergreen Anthony Losilla was particularly significant. Defensive boss Ivan Ordets and Danilo Soares also had to wave off due to illness.
Both rear teams did not notice the conversion measures at the beginning. Both Füllkrug and his counterpart Philipp Hofmann had a hard time in the many duels. It took until the 16th minute before Füllkrug came to the first real conclusion – he aimed from distance much too high.
The game now gained in intensity and also the initially equal guests sought their way into the penalty area more often via their lively wingers as at the conclusion of director Kevin Stöger (26.). But Bochum remained harmless and Werder struck. The chance for the follow-up goal by Hofmann thwarted Werder keeper Jiri Pavlenka (45.).
Letsch changed offensively at half-time and hoped for new impulses from midfielder Philipp Förster. But the guests still lacked the means to work out noteworthy final situations – Werder had everything under control.