Even though Andrej Kramaric opened the scoring, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim could count themselves fortunate to earn a point against Werder Bremen. Julian Nagelsmann's side, down to 10 men, somehow managed to hang on for large parts of the game after Papy Djilobodji leveled the match.
Despite their rotten league form, Bremen enjoyed cup success in mid-week with a spectacular win over Bayer Leverkusen. Viktor Skripnik will be hoping for more of the same from his side, and took that confidence into his only change in the line up. Anthony Ujah came in for Levin Öztunali, in an attacking switch.
Hoffenheim were left without a manger after Huub Stevens left due to health concerns, though it did open the door for 28-year-old Julian Nagelsmann. The youngest coach in Bundesliga history knew the importance of the game, and made three alterations as a result. Philipp Ochs, Fabian Schär and Eduardo Vargas started in place of Jeremy Toljan, Pavel Kaderabek and Jonathan Schmid.
Kramaric and Djilobodji net early on
It was a frantic beginning in Bremen, and both sides traded early goals. The opener came for Hoffenheim and Nagelsmann could hardly have hoped for a better start in his first game in charge. Tobias Strobl whipped in a great ball towards the back post after escaping own the right, and Andrej Kramaric met the ball with great gusto to head past Felix Wiedwald.
The joy would be short lived and the old adage of being most vulnerable after scoring rung true. Florian Grillitsch swung in a corner from the right, with Papy Djilobodji managing to fire the ball towards goal. His effort found the back of the net after a slightly fortunate deflection off Ermin Bicakcic, meaning their lead lasted just three minutes.
The game fell into a slight lull after that, with both sides seemingly keen to control the play after a frenzied start. However, Bremen would come back stronger and were unlucky not to be ahead after two superb stops from Oliver Baumann. A long range drive was beaten behind for a corner, before Ujah's header was met with a strong palm at the near post. Hoffenheim threw a few late crosses into the box late on in the half but they failed to cause concern for the home defence, leaving the game level at the break.
Werder somehow pass up chance after chance
The early moments of the second half were nothing like the first, with two massive chances being missed by either side. Hoffenheim earned a free-kick on the edge of the area, when it seemed closer to being a penalty, but they could make nothing of it. At the other end, a wonderful cross from Santiago Garcia picked out Ujah only for the Nigerian to somehow head wide.
Claudio Pizarro, who had been quiet for the entire game, then sparked into life with two headed opportunities of his own. He was denied from close range by Baumann before flicking one wide at the near post. The hosts were well in control and things only got better for them when goalscorer Kramaric did his side no favours by picking up a silly second yellow card.
Djilobodji almost made the advantage count immediately, with Werder creating countless opportunities from headers. This time, it cannoned back off the post. The hosts laid siege on Hoffenheim's and were camped in the opponent's half for the remaining minutes but just couldn't find a crucial winner. Both teams remain locked in the relegation battle after the result, with a draw doing neither any favours.