Werder Bremen 3 - 2 Wolfsburg: Wolfsburg's week goes from bad to worse as Bremen boost survival hopes

Posted Sunday, April 17, 2016 by PA

Werder Bremen increased their cushion over the Bundesliga's bottom two with a 3-2 win over Wolfsburg which completed a miserable week for their opponents.

A Claudio Pizarro penalty put Bremen in front, but Josuha Guilavogui levelled for the Wolves, who crashed out of the Champions League in midweek after a 3-0 loss at Real Madrid.

Efforts from Fin Bartels and Sambou Yatabare earned the hosts the points which moved them four clear of the drop zone, although they are still in the relegation play-off berth.

Wolfsburg, who grabbed a late consolation through Bas Dost, now look increasingly unlikely to qualify for the Champions League next season, while they have a challenge on their hands even qualifying for Europe.

Bremen coach Viktor Skripnik welcomed Pizarro back into his side after injury and he would have been encouraged by the start his men made.

They crowned it with the opening goal from the Peruvian, who converted a penalty off the inside of the left-hand post after Vieirinha fouled Zlatko Junuzovic inside the area.

It was the 11th goal of 2016 for the Bundesliga's most prolific foreign goalscorer, now 37 years old.

Dost was also influential at the other end of the pitch. He added an edge to the Wolfsburg attack and helped set up the equaliser 10 minutes before half-time, flicking on Vieirinha's corner for Guilavogui to head in from close range, having seen a goal ruled out for offside earlier on.

The game started to get a little heated in the second half and Bremen director of sport Klaus Allofs was sent from the bench moments before Santiago Garcia was substituted for the hosts as the risk grew he might get a second yellow card.

The rest of Bremen's team were keeping their cool, though, and it paid off as they regained the lead in the 65th minute, with Junuzovic returning a pass to Bartels, who provided a cool finish from close range.

Wolfsburg again set about finding an equaliser, but, just as they were building up a head of steam, Bremen struck again.

Junuzovic was again the provider for Yatabare to convert from close range.

And it proved a key goal, with Dost heading in a Ricardo Rodriguez cross with three minutes left as Wolfsburg set up a tense finish.