Werder Bremen claimed their first points in UEFA Champions League Group C with a 2-1 win over Lazio.
Germans claim first win of Champions League campaign
Werder Bremen claimed their first points in UEFA Champions League Group C with a 2-1 win over Lazio.
Strikes in each half from Boubacar Sanogo and Hugo Almeida sent the Germans on their way to victory at the Weserstadion, with Christian Manfredini grabbing a late goal for Lazio.
Diego dominates
Bremen's Naldo had the best chance of the opening 15 minutes, but sent his header from a free-kick wide, before Diego took over the show.
The Brazilian's finishing was not at his best in the first-half, as he failed to trouble Lazio's veteran goalkeeper Marco Ballotta on more than one occasion.
However, his playmaking ability shone through on 28 minutes as his delightful pass over the Lazio backline fell for Sanogo who went round Ballotta before beating the defender on the line with his shot.
Diego tried his luck with an overhead kick which went over the top and Clemens Fritz forced a good save from Ballotta on the stroke of half-time.
Victory safe
Bremen were well on their way to the three points in the 54th minute when Almeida turned in Fritz's low ball across the face of Lazio's goal from 10 yards out.
Lazio showed some life in the second-half and Goran Pandev forced Tim Wiese into action shortly after the hour mark and Massimo Mutarelli dragged a shot wide.
The Italians did pull one goal back in the 82nd minute with Manfredini firing past Wiese on the rebound after the Bremen keeper could not hold Aleksandar Kolarov's free-kick.
But the home side hung on for the three points and were denied a third when Almeida had a goal ruled out for offside in the final minute.
| Werder Bremen |
Team Statistics |
Lazio |
| 2 |
Goals |
1 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 5 |
Shots on Target |
4 |
| 10 |
Shots off Target |
4 |
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 6 |
Corners |
4 |
| 19 |
Fouls |
21 |
| 7 |
Offsides |
8 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
4 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 78.3 |
Passing Success |
69.7 |
| 22 |
Tackles |
27 |
| 63.6 |
Tackles Success |
88.9 |
| 58.2 |
Possession |
41.8 |
| 52 |
Territorial Advantage |
48 |
|
