A win for either side would have resulted in them moving up to 11th, above one another and allowing themselves some breathing space. Werder enter the game from a derby win from the previous match day, whereas Nürnberg enter the fixture looking to make amends for their drumming away at Dortmund.
For Nurnberg, Crystal Palace loanee José Campaña got his first Bundesliga start for 'Der Club'. For Bremen, the same team as last week who valiantly beat rivals Hamburg; the only change being Luca Caldirola, replacing the injured Santiago Garcia.
Bremen were to get things started, attacking right towards the travelling 1564 fans. However, the first chance would belong to Nuremberg. A cross was floated in, but was dealt with by Lukimya. Werder's first major chance came in the ninth minute, when Ignjovaki went down and earnt his team a costless kick. Polish playmaker Obraniak delivered the ball into the box but veteran shot stopper Schafer punched the danger clear, being fouled in the process. Nurnberg's early dominance was to continue and the aforementioned Campana went down in the box, but the referee wasn't interested by his penalty claims, waving play on.
Another shout for a penalty was also dismissed by the official, as Mak went to the ground after being barged off the ball by Lukimya. The shot that really got the game going came from Bremen frontman, Franco Di Santo, with his rocket of a shot pinging back into play off the bar, leaving Schafer no chance. Nürnberg's shot-stopper was still stunned when Di Santo went to get the follow up but hit wide. After thirty minutes, Nürnberg looked more dominant than their opponents. However, Werder looked more dangerous on the attack. Medics come to Schafer's assistance and give treatment to hip area believed to be affected from the earlier foul not 20 minutes before. The first booking would belong to Philipp Bargfrede as he clatters into a fast breaking Robert Mak. The foul looked careless, although later replay's show he in fact got the ball first.
Soon after team mate Obraniak was to join him in the book after he slowed a Nurnberg cross field pass with his arm. Birthday boy Robert Mak was at it again, running at the Bremen defence countless times before seeing his shot blocked after gliding through multiple men in white. The ball was to be punted up the field after the attempt and land at the feet of Aaron Hunt, who fiercely blasted a shot off the post. The ricocheted shot landed on Franco Di Santo's toes, who would hammer home from close range. It took forty minutes before the deadlock was broken; 1-0 Werder.
Swiss Man Josip Drmic tried a shot from far out which could only be labelled a frustration shot, as it fizzled miles over and wide of Wolf's goal. A third Bremen man was to be placed in the book just before half time; as Junuzovic is cautioned for a tackle prior to Ignjovski's foul on Hlousek.
Half time Nurnberg 0:1 Werder Bremen.
Injured keeper Schafer was forced to withdraw the field and was replaced by reserve team keeper, Rakovsky. The first big chance of the second - half, like in the first half, came to Werder when Di Santo - unable to reach Junuzovic's cross after successfully wrestling Czech defender OndrejPetrák off of the ball, passing out wide to him. Nürnberg's Hiroshi Kiyotake elegantly beat three Bremen men on the attack, but overall attack turned into nothing in the end. By this point Werder were now in control of the game and a higher attacking tempo was now evident in Nurnberg's play with Campana coming close to scoring with two attempts in relatively quick succession, one stinging Wolf's hands , one not so troubling.
TOR!!!: Bargfrede took advantage of Jose Campana's sloppy play and blastedit into the bottom corner past Rakovsky from outside the box. It was 2-0 to Werder Bremen with sixty-eight minutes gone. Bremen looked sure to add to their lead as Hunt latched on to a Junuzovic pass and goes down in the box and the referee awards a penalty. Despite Nurnberg's appeals, namely Pinola, the referee didn't change his mind until Hunt approached the referee and explained how he had tripped over himself, great sportsmanship shown by the Bremen man. The referee rescinded his decision and Pinola kindly thanked Hunt with a handshake. Little happened until the final five in which Josip Drmic saw a headed effort tipped over the bar by Wolf and that was to be the end for Nurnberg with Werder dominating the remaining few minutes, Full time FC Nurnberg 0:2 Werder Bremen.
The result see's Werder move up to 11th, eight points clear of the relegation places. For Nurnberg that result leaves them just three points clear of the relegation places sitting in 14th. It is also worth noting it was Werder's first away win since mid-September.