Valencia 1-1 Werder Bremen

Posted Friday, March 12, 2010 by Goal.com

The Hanseaten picked up the lead via Torsten Frings in the first half, but los Che fought back after the interval and Juan Mata helped his side to a draw...

Valencia face a tough task in the second leg of their Europa League clash with Werder Bremen if they are to make it to the quarter-finals after having drawn the first leg 1-1. Experienced midfielder Torsten Frings helped the Germans to the lead with a converted spot kick in the first half. Tricky winger Juan Mata then restored parity after the interval.

The Spanish side started the match the better side of the two and needed only four minutes to create their first chance. David Villa came close, but the prolific hitman failed to add his name to the score sheet.

Werder Bremen dangerman Claudio Pizarro then got his first chance to open the score after eleven minutes of play. The Peruvian hitman picked up a loose ball inside the area, but his shot was blocked and eventually cleared into safety.

Pablo found David Silva on the left side of the Werder Bremen penalty area, but the attacking midfielder couldn't take his shot properly and the ball went out harmlessly out of play.

The Germans then opened the scoring from out of nowhere as the referee awarded Werder a spot kick halfway the first half after Angel Dealbert allegedly handled the ball. Experienced midfielder Torsten Frings stepped up and didn't fail from twelve yards.

Juan Mata should have levelled the score around the half hour mark. Carlos Marchena spread the ball wide to the right to Miguel, who floated in a well measured cross, but Mata slipped at the crucial moment and the chance went begging.

Argentinian midfielder Ever Banega was the next to try his luck for Valencia. Los Che continued to press along the left side and Banega cut inside before he took a shot that was parried onto the post and out for a corner by Bremen custodian Tim Wiese.

Bremen then launched a classic counter-attack in the 33th minute as Marko Marin forced his way into the Valencia penalty area as he skipped past a couple of challenges. However, his shot was well saved by Valencia goalkeeper Cesar.

Pizarro then tested the Valencia goalie only minutes after the break with a shot from the edge of the area, but Cesar once again pulled off a superb save to deny the former Chelsea man.

Five minutes after the interval, Mata crossed the ball from the left and Pablo controlled it excellently and then nudged it slightly forward. Nevertheless, he couldn't place the shot on target from just five yards out and squandered the chance.

Banega received his marching orders after 55 minutes of play for alleged violent conduct, but this didn't stop Valencia from equalising only minutes later. Pablo did the hard work on the right flank and lofted the ball into the Bremen danger area towards David Silva. His shot was blocked by Wiese, but the rebound fell to Juan Mata and the Spanish international tapped home from close range.

Los Che almost grabbed the lead in the 63rd minute after a corner kick. Pablo set up Silva and the left footed midfielder's shot forced Wiese into a troublesome save.

The pace of the game then slowed down a bit and it took until fifteen minutes before the final whistle before Valencia got another chance. The referee awarded the Spaniards a free kick in a dangerous position, but the shot was smothered by the wall.

The next chance of the game was for David Navarro, but the Valencia defender couldn't head it home at the near post on the right.

Pizarro should have won it for the Germans with a shot in the dying minutes of the game. Aaron Hunt set up the South American in a dangerous position, but Pizarro failed to get his shot on target and Valencia escaped.