Hoffenheim were on the losing side once again as the European chasers failed to close the gap on a Europa League spot as they lost 2-1 at home to an impressive Werder Bremen side.
The first chance of the match also happened to be the opening goal of the game when Franco Di Santo gave Bremen the perfect start as the striker latched onto Selke’s lose ball from outside the penalty box and the Argentina international, with a first time shot, blasts the ball past Baumann into the top right hand corner to make it 1-0 to the visitors.
Volland almost responded with an equaliser in the 17th minute when Volland managed to beat two Bremen defenders, however his shot went straight into the hands of Wolf. Hoffenheim almost had an equaliser when Schwegler played in a low cross into the box but Galvez almost tapped the ball into his own net had it not been from a quick reaction clearance from Wolf.
In the 27th minute Schwegler had a goal wrongly disallowed as Szalai looked like he had pulled back and fouled Wolf inside the box as Schwegler poked in from close range, but the replays showed that there was minimal contact on the Bremen goalkeeper. But in the 33rd minute, Bicakcic equalised for Hoffenheim as Schwegler’s corner found the head of an open Bicakcic and the centre back guided the ball into an open net to make it 1-1.
Szalai should had made it 2-1 when Volland’s free-kick in the 39th minute missed everyone inside the box, including the Bremen goalkeeper, who left the goal wide open for Szalai to give Hoffenheim the lead had it not been for Galvez, who did brilliant to win the ball off the striker and to clear the danger. Bremen could had made it 2-1 had it not been for an incredible save from Baumann in the last minute of the first half to deny Selke.
Bremen took the lead once again in the 52nd minute when the ball fell to Bargfrede on the edge of the penalty box through a Di Santo pass and Bargfrede’s well hit shot was too much to handle for Baumann and the ball rifled into the back of the net to give the visitors the for the second time. Volland again had a chance to score but his vicious volley went straight into the chest of Wolf.
Szalai had a great chance to equalise when Elyounoussi’s high cross found Szalai, but his shot from 6-yards out went blazing over the bar. Di Santo could have scored a brace in the 67th minute but Baumann easily saved Di Santo’s header.
The final chance of the match came to Di Santo who again came close to doubling his tally for the night when Bargfrede played a pass that split the defence in the 74th minute but Di Santo was at too tight an angle and his curling effort rolled out for a goal kick.