Werder Bremen has distanced itself from the relegation places and exacerbated the Hertha BSC crisis. Bremen won 4-1 (2-1) in Berlin on the 18th Bundesliga matchday. Davie Selke (10th minute, penalty kick) and Ömer Toprak (29th) gave Werder the lead. Jhon Córdoba (45th + 2) made the connection, but Leonardo Bittencourt (57th) and Joshua Sargent (77th) achieved the final score.
Hertha BSC only scored one goal in the last four games, only got one point and is in a crisis. The Berliners are only two points ahead of 1. FC Köln on the relegation place. Cologne will play against Hoffenheim on Sunday and could overtake Hertha. Werder Bremen is currently six points ahead of the relegation place.
Hertha coach Bruno Labbadia played with three strikers against Cologne a week ago, against Hoffenheim with two strikers – now against Werder only Jhon Córdoba remained at the top. Krzysztof Piatek was on the bench, Dodi Lukebakio was not in the squad. At first, the Berliners hardly radiated a goal danger even with the new line-up.
Instead, the Hertha defense enabled Bremen to take the lead early. Maximilian Mittelstädt came too late in the penalty area with a tackle against Romano Schmid, referee Daniel Schlager decided on a penalty. Davie Selke transformed it with a placed shot in the right corner of the goal to make it 1-0 (10th).
Hertha tried to get possession of the ball, but rarely came into the Bremen penalty area. A dribble by Matheus Cunha then opened the chance to equalize: Bremen’s Jean-Manuel Mbom hit Cunha from behind, again referee Schlager gave a penalty. Cunha took the shot himself, but goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka parried the shot with a jump into the right corner (22nd). Just seven minutes later, Bremen struck again. Leonardo Bittencourt crossed a corner kick from the right into the penalty area and Ömer Toprak headed 2-0 (29th). Later, Selke (32nd) and Toprak (51st) had to be replaced due to injuries.
Werder withdrew and left the ball to Berlin more often. Hertha kept coming up to the penalty area, but the big chances were not there. Shortly before the break, however, the connection was made. Peter Pekarík crossed from the right into the penalty area and Córdoba headed the 2-1 (45th + 2).
A race to catch up did not result from the goal. Instead, Bremen pulled away again after the break. Maximilian Eggestein played a high ball at the penalty spot and Bittencourt shot goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow the ball through his legs into the goal (57th).
After that, Berlin was not without a chance. Cunha had the great opportunity to reconnect, but missed the goal without being forced to shoot, instead of crossing to Piatek, who was ready to shoot (66th). Bremen remained cautious for a long time, but the substitute Sargent made the preliminary decision, with a shot from 20 meters he scored 4-1 (77th).