Germany - Bundesliga VAVELFULL TIME
As it happened: Werder Bremen secure Bundesliga safety on away goals against Heidenheim
Full Time: 1.FC Heidenheim 2-2 Werder Bremen
Werder Bremen secure themselves a spot in the 2020/21 Bundesliga season and Heidenheim narrowly miss out on relegation.
An extraordinary contest, Heidenheim were just defeated on away goals after they equalled the scoring in the final minute through a penalty.
The small team from the 2. Bundesliga did themselves proud however against the Bundesliga's longest-serving team, but their fairytale story just wasn't to be.
I've been Adam Millington, thank you for tuning into VAVEL.com's LIVE coverage of 1. FC Heidenheim vs Werder Bremen
GOAL HEIDENHEIM
Kleindienst gets his brace with an expertly-done penalty
PENALTY HEIDENHEIM
Heidenheim have a penalty in the final minutes, although it won't mean much
GOOAL WERDER BREMEN
Werder secure their survival, Müller left all alone at the back and Augustinsson slots into an open goal
90+2' Bremen doing whatever they can to run down the clock now
90' Five minutes of added time
88' Only two minutes left now, can Werder hold on or can Heidenheim do the unthinkable?
87' It's worth a reminder that Bremen will win this game on away goals as it stands
85' GOOOAAAAL HEIDENHEIM
It's hit from range by Mohr and its Kleindienst who taps in after it deflects off the bar. We're in for an exciting final few minutes!
84' Not long left now, surely Bremen have done it?
82' Klaassen hits it from range but it lands on the top of the net
81' Multhaup receives a yellow card for a slide tackle on Klaasen
80' Two subs for the visitors as Rashica and Velijkovic make way for Füllkrug and Langkamp
79' Heidenheim still attacking really well here but they just haven't had that clinical edge
76' Heidenheim still attacking well but it's hard to see any way for them to get back into the game
75' Quarter of an hour left
53' Busch nods the ball behind and its a corner for Bremen
72' Free-kick for Werder Bremen in their own half after a defender is taken down by a Heidenheim player
71' Twenty minutes left and still all to play for with both sides competing at a high intensity
66' It seems to be that there were quite a few Heidenheim fans who had found their way into the ground but they have been escorted out
64' Under 30 minutes left and the game has evened out
60' Resulting corner is cleared
59' Josh Sargent goes all the way but is stopped at the last second by Müller
58' Augustinsson finds himself free in the box but it's another great block on the line
58' Corner cleared by Heidenheim
58' Josh Sargent tries to attack but his shot is deflected behind
57' The corner reaches a Bremen player at the back post but it's cleared off the line
56' Bremen have the ball inside of the box but last-gasp defending sees the ball deflected out for a corner
54' Bremen have found themselves on the back foot since the second half started
52' Ball goes out at the by-line and its a goal kick for Pavlenka
ICYMI: Two subs for Heidenheim at the break. Otto replaced Schnatterer and Schimmer replaced Thomalla
50' Osako has space in front of goal for Werder but its a good block by a Heidenheim defender
50' Heidenheim have started this second half much better and have had lots of good opportunities
48' Close again! Otto receives the ball in the middle of the box but his header is just wide
47' So close! Heidenheim have the ball inside of the box after a corner but one player fires over the bar
46' Better already for Heidenheim as Pavlenka is forced into a save early on
Second half underway!
The second half has started
Second half to start soon!
There's not long until the second half starts
Half Time: 1. FC Heidenheim 0-1 Werder Bremen
It's Theuerkauf's early own goal that give Werder the lead going into the break.
Stay tuned for LIVE updates of the second half
45+3' Werder go forward via Eggestein and Sargent but it's cleared
3 minutes added on
44' Heidenheim getting back into it now and passing the ball well around their own defence
42' Not long left in the first half and its still all to play for, albeit the visitors now have the advantage of an away goal
40' Bremen still on top but Heidenheim have started to get into the match
36' Heidenheim go forwards but are adjudged to be offside
35' He's now back up
34' A Heidenheim player is pushed out on the wing and is clutching his ankle
33' That noise is getting annoying now
32' Werder still looking the side on top
30' Heidenheim slowly getting into the game but they're not leaving much to be desired
28' First time that Heidenheim go forwards but the ball goes behind the goal
26' To be honest, apart from the early own goal, the main talking point has been those in the stands.
There's one with a horn, one with a drum and one with what seem to be some pans that they're hitting together.
That's lockdown football.
25' Sargent is down and clutching his back
23' If there's one thing that the visitors are leaving to be desired then its Josh Sargent's performance.
The USMNT youngster has seemed off the mark
23' Heidenheim are really struggling
19' Bremen have been a joy to watch today, Heidenheim have struggled to get outside of their own half
17' Much of the same, Werder are playing fluid passing football going forwards, focusing on Osaka and Sargent up top
15' Quarter of an hour gone and it's been all Bremen so far. They have really changed for the better since the first leg
12' Heidenheim have struggled today and the visitors look far better
10' Klaasen heads the corner but it's straight into the arms of the keeper
10' VAR check for handball says it did not hit the Heidenheim player's hand and the corner will take place
10' Werder have a corner
9' Rashica hits it from range and it's saved brilliantly by Müller in the Heidenheim goal
8' Heidenheim have struggled to get started in this game and Werder look the far better
6' Bremen have started as the better of the two by far, attacking much better than in the first leg
I still can't believe how that has happened. If that was from a Bremen player it would have been an incredible finish
3' GOAL WERDER BREMEN
The goal which Werder Bremen could have only have dreamt of came early on. Rashica plays it to Eggestein and its an incredible own goal as Theuerkauf chips his own keeper from the edge of the box
3' It's already started more quickly than the first leg, with Bremen attacking with a high press
1' Here we go!
The first half is underway
Only a short while until kickoff
Werder in new kit tonight
Werder Bremen will play in a new kit from Umbro for tonight's game
FOR THE CITY. FOR THE FANS. FOR WERDER.
— Umbro (@umbro) July 6, 2020
The new @werderbremen city kit is on pitch tonight and available now. ✋🏻💚🤚🏻#LEBENLANGSGRÜNWEISS #FCHSVW #CITYKIT pic.twitter.com/8CO9FK16fb
Heidenheim fantastic at home
1. FC have been incredible at home this season in the 2. Bundesliga.
Across their 17 games, they have only lost two and have won in eleven.
Heidenheim top scorer Tim Kleindienst has scored 13 of his 14 goals this season in games at home.
Pizarro's final match
Tonight will the final match of one of the Bundesliga's longest servants.
At 41 years of age, Claudio Pizarro will end his professional career after tonight after playing in four different decades.
15 minutes left
A quarter of an hour to go until kickoff in Heidenheim
How to watch on TV and Stream
For those in the UK, the game is available to watch live on BT Sport 1
For those in the USA, the game is available to watch live on Fox Sports 2
If you want to follow along on the internet, VAVEL UK is the best option
Four former Bremeners in Heidenheim's side
There are four players in Heidenheim's defence this season who have also featured for Werder Bremen.
Those players are Marnon Busch, Patrick Mainka, Norman Theuerkauf and Oliver Husing. Three of those four start tonight and will be aiming to send their former club down to the 2. Bundesliga
30 minutes left!
There's only half an hour left until kickoff in Heidenheim.
Werder Bremen are the longest-serving side in Germany's top flight, and they have been in every game since the 1980/81 season. Will tonight see a change to that run?
45 minutes to go!
We're fast approaching kickoff in tonight's game between 1.FC Heidenheim and SV Werder Bremen
Heidenheim: Starting Lineup
Here's how the hosts will line up tonight:
Eine knappe Stunde bis Anpfiff- Hier ist unsere Aufstellung! 🔴🔵#FCHSVW pic.twitter.com/s5e62BSTH2
— 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 (@FCH1846) July 6, 2020
Werder Bremen substitutes
Werder Bremen have announced their substitutes, with Claudio Pizarro on the bench
On the bench 💺
— SV Werder Bremen EN (@werderbremen_en) July 6, 2020
⏳ #Kapino, #Selke, #Bittencourt, #Füllkrug, #Pizarro, #Langkamp, #Bartels, #Groß, #Bargfrede#werder #FCHSVW pic.twitter.com/PgOi8msS4H
Werder Bremen: Team News now in!
Here's how the green-whites will line up for tonight's game:
As big as it comes for these XI players tonight 📋#werder #FCHSWV pic.twitter.com/arpLKBkP8X
— SV Werder Bremen EN (@werderbremen_en) July 6, 2020
A sunny Voith-Arena
It doesn't look as if the weather, which was a large factor when a rainstorm overcame the Weserstadion on Thursday, will be a problem during today's game
The stage is set 🏟️
— SV Werder Bremen EN (@werderbremen_en) July 6, 2020
90 minutes to kick-off in Heidenheim. #werder #SVWFCH pic.twitter.com/Ah1Ct4qAaI
90 minutes to go!
There’s only an hour and a half left until kickoff at the Voith-Arena, with Team news due in 30 minutes
Stay tuned for LIVE pre-match updates here on VAVEL UK
Previous Heidenhiem home tie
It's only the second time that Heidenheim have hosted Werder Bremen, with the last time occurring back in the 2011 DFB Pokal.
On that day, the underdogs were victorious against a Bremen side who were heavy favourites.
Why not watch back the highlights from Heidenheim's previous 2-1 victory
First taste of the Bundesliga for Heidenheim?
The home side are very close to being able to secure Bundesliga football for the first time in their history.
Since they were founded in 1952, they have only been in the second division for the past four years but everything looks on the up in Baden-Württemberg.
3 hours to go!
There's three hours until kickoff at this evening's game in Heidenheim.
Will Werder manage to stay up or will Heidenheim earn promotion?
Pizarro's swansong
Peruvian international Claudio Pizarro will play his final game as a professional footballer for Werder Bremen tonight, first joining the club in 1999 and having five separate spells with them since then.
- Oldest goalscorer in Bundesliga history
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) July 6, 2020
- First player to score a goal in the Bundesliga in 21 different calendar years
- Bremen's record goalscorer
Claudio Pizarro to play his last game as a professional footballer.
Football is going to miss @pizarrinha 💚 #FCHSVW pic.twitter.com/UWYWhDlvp5
Can Werder stay up?
Werder Bremen have been in the top flight for longer than any other side and today is their last chance to secure a Bundesliga spot for next season.
Last-day heroics saw them earn a place in the relegation, but tonight will be the decider for if they stay up or not.
First leg highlights
Ahead of tonight's game, why not watch the highlights of the first leg of the game?
Do not miss a detail of the match with the live updates and commentaries of VAVEL. Follow along with us all the details, commentaries, analysis and lineups for Heidenheim vs Werder Bremen.
How to watch Heidenheim vs Werder Bremen Live TV and Stream
If you want to watch the game on TV, your options are: BT Sport 1
If you want to directly stream it: BT Sport App.
If you want to watch it on the internet, VAVEL UK is your best option!
Werder Bremen: Predicted Lineup
Pavlenka, Selassie, Veljkovic, Vogt, Friedl, Eggestein, Gross, Klaassen, Bittencourt, Fullkrug, Rashica
Heidenheim: Predicted Lineup
Muller, Busch, Mainka, Beermann, Theuerkauf, Griesbeck, Dorsch, Thomalla, Schnatterer, Multhaup, Kleindienst
Werder Bremen: Team News
Bremen will be without their captain for Monday’s contest, as Niklas Moisander was sent off in the 1st leg after receiving two yellow cards.
Luckily for the Green-Whites, they will have Kevin Vogt available for selection again, as he has served his suspension that ruled him out last time around.
1. FC Heidenheim: Team News
Heidenheim have no fresh injury concerns going into the game. Defender Arne Feick didn’t feature in the first leg last Thursday, although he might be able to return to the team if need be for the upcoming contest.
Weak first leg
The first leg of the playoff was not the most exciting one to watch, with neither side impressing.
There was only a single shot on target throughout the entire match, with each team having only six shots
The decider
After a 0-0 draw in the first leg tonight's game will be the decider for if Heidenheim manage to secure promotion to the Bundesliga, or if Werder Bremen can avoid the drop
Kick-off time
Heidenheim vs Werder Bremen will be played at the Voith-Arena, in Heidenheim, Germany. The kick-off is scheduled at 19:30 BST.
Welcome
Welcome to VAVEL UK’s LIVE coverage of the 2020 Bundesliga playoff: Heidenheim vs Werder Bremen! My name is Adam Millington and I’ll be your host for this game. We will provide you with pre-game analysis, roster updates, and news as it happens live here on VAVEL.com