Werder Bremen managed to survive with 10 men for over half the game as they held Eintracht Frankfurt to a 0-0 draw in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
The hosts tested Raphael Wolf through Joselu in the first half before Alexander Meier struck the post from a free kick and then Felix Kroos was sent off for two yellow cards.
In the second half Frankfurt put in a lot of crosses and won a lot of corners but despite Meier missing with an unmarked header the away side clung on for a point.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Good afternoon Bundesliga fans! It's another German double-header today. Later on Bayern Munich travel to Hannover, but first it's Frankfurt at home to Werder Bremen. Both teams are on 21 points, so a win is big for both sides today.
Frankfurt have the Europa League as well as Bundesliga to contend with this season, which goes some way to explaining their struggle domestically so far. They have been very impressive in Europe but have suffered from hangovers too many times. If they're not on the ball today Werder can take real advantage.
Frankfurt have been better recently, with three wins from six lifting them partially clear of danger, but this will certainly be one of the games they will be expecting to win. Bremen have lost two of their last three with nine goals going in their own net - they have to plug that defence if they are to climb the table.
The teams are in, so I'll get those right over to you. Will we see changes from the Frankfurt side that drew with Porto on Thursday?
FRANKFURT XI: Trapp; Jung, Zambrano, Madlung, Oczipka; Schwegler, Russ; Rode, Flum, Meier; Joselu
BREMEN XI: Wolf; Ignjovski, Prodl, Caldirola, Bargfrede; Kroos, Makiadi, Obraniak; Junuzovic; Di Santo, Petersen
In answer to my question before I posted the teams: no. Armin Veh has kept faith with the team that played against Porto and will possibly hoping for a carryover of the momentum they got for coming back in that game. Joselu scored a very good goal in the second half and he leads the line once more.
The Werder team picks itself at the moment. Without Eljero Elia a lot of the creative pressure will be on the shoulders of Zlatko Junuzovic and in Franco di Santo and Nils Petersen they have two strikers who are not quite performing at this moment in time.
A look at the odds tells us that despite the sides having the same points tally, Frankfurt are the favourites today. You can back them at around 4/5 while Werder are back at about 3/1. The draw, which is quite likely for me is also 3/1.
PREDICTION: I think that draw looks very tempting. While looking at the two teams I would expect Frankfurt to win, I think the Porto draw took a lot out of them and can see this one ending 1-1.
The fans are in good voice as they always are here. It was 7,500 who travelled to Portugal in midweek and I'm sure most of those are here today to spur their heroes on once more.
KICKOFF: We're underway then. Let's hope for some goals - the Bundesliga usually obliges there.
Neither side is on top of the game in the early stages here. There are mishit passes from both teams and no chances yet. It's tactical at the moment.
First threat there from the home team. Meier drove to the byline with Marco Russ getting into the box for the cross, but it was a good tackle by Ignjovski to clear it out for a throw.
Pressure just beginning to build a little bit on the visitors in white. Meier is looking very lively indeed and is causing a lot of problems down the left. No shots at goal so far yet, although Ignjovski and Prodl are having to defend well to win it back for Werder.
Werder are set up to remain tight and hit the hosts on the break here. Makiadi is having to do a lot of breaking up of play but as yet Di Santo and Petersen have not got on the end of any balls forward. That said, Petersen breaks down the left and crosses, but it's a foul by Junuzovic as he tried to get on it.
Werder are seeing a lot more of the ball in the last few minutes, but have not tested Kevin Trapp in the home goal yet. Bit of a scrappy spell as both sides vie for the ball.
Rode does well in midfield to shield the ball and win a free kick. Frankfurt are just looking to play themselves into the game with possession football but there are few gaps at the moment.
CLOSE! What a big chance for Joselu! He's played through by a Meier header but Wolf did so well to come out quickly and put pressure on the forward who poked it wide.
That was almost a chance for Rode there. The cross came in from Oczipka and eas headed down by Joselu to Rode, who just couldn't control and it bobbled through to Wolf.
OFF THE POST! Really clever free kick from Meier there. He clipped it around the wall with Wolf beaten but the ball went wide via the post. Unlucky for the Frankfurt striker.
BOOKING: Pirmin Schwegler goes into the book for a foul in midfield. The first of the afternoon and he doesn't complain.
There was a peak of competitiveness a few minutes ago, but once again it has settled into a bit of a lull. Werder's Junuzovic is being helped off the pitch to receive treatment. We're back underway.
Di Santo latches on to a loose ball and drives down the right. It was good defending by Oczipka to force him further wide, before winning the tackle and then a free kick after he was pulled down. Very good defending and he's been strong so far.
BOOKING: It's Kroos's turn to go into the book after bringing down Rode. He went in for the challenge but the Frankfurt man got himself between ball and body and there was only one outcome. From the free kick Russ's shot at the far post is blocked before Flum's header was put behind for a corner by striker Petersen. Really good chance that second one, but good defending.
Frankfurt might feel like they should be ahead here, but really it's just been the one golden chance that Joselu put wide. The visitors have been too scrappy in midfield.
RED CARD! Kroos is off! Rode kept the ball in on the right and skipped past Kroos, who brought him down. There wasn't a lot of contact, but you can't block off your opponent on a yellow card. He gets his second and this is a huge advantage for Frankfurt now.
WERDER SUB: Robin Dutt is forced into a change after that red card. Santiago Garcia comes on for Petersen. When you play two up top that's an easy enough defensive change, but now they need to hold on for 0-0 pretty much. Can they?
Plenty of crosses from the home side coming into the far post area. Russ wins one from the right and his header is probably aimed towards Madlung who was forward, but it was too close to Wolf who gathered.
Frankfurt remaining patient and if anything they've got more of a wall to get through now. At least before Werder had a couple of men up top for counters, but now it's just Di Santo who is also in his own half.
I don't think there will be a goal before half time here. Frankfurt are pressing but they haven't had a chance since the red card. There will be two minutes added on.
HALF TIME: Frankfurt 0-0 Bremen
It's 0-0 at the break and probably just about right. Frankfurt have had the better of the action and could be ahead, though, but for a good save from Wolf and the frame of the goal.
Werder have not tested Trapp as yet, but they did have a very good chance on the break. Di Santo got to the byline and cut back for Junuzovic, but Oczipka did really well to get there first and win a free kick.
Werder have also had Kroos sent off for two yellow cards. In fairness he did only concede two fouls and the second yellow was probably a bit harsh, but once he was booked at first he was walking the tightrope and fell off it only a few minutes later.
Change at the break for the home side then, as Madlung is off for Stefan Aigner.
We get back underway. How will that attacking change go for Veh's men? Meier, Joselu and Aigner are not all on the field. Plenty of goalscoring threat.
Patient probing to begin the half from Frankfurt. They've not tested Wolf as yet because Werder are keeping things very tight.
Half-chance for Werder as a Di Santo attack is blocked behind for a corner. Prodl rises for it but it's taken off his head and the chance has gone. First real foray forward of the half for the away side that.
Prodl now having to earn his money at the other end. He puts a cross behind for a corner, which is met by Joselu but he was under enough pressure from Caldirola that he put it well over the bar.
It's a really tough time for Frankfurt at the moment. Werder are defending heroically out there and are letting nothing through at the moment. Wolf is being protected very well by his defence.
BOOKING: Caldirola now goes into the book and he will miss the next game because of it. There are likely to be more bookings as Werder defend ever more desperately.
Frankfurt are starting to spread the play well. They pull Werder to the right then find Oczipka in space, but his cross is deflected behind for a corner.
Inui came on for FLum a few moments ago, but hasn't had the time to have a say yet. Frankfurt still seeing all of the ball but Wolf remains relatively comfortable at the moment.
It hasn't been the best half of football - or match - by any stretch. Dutt quickly made the decision to put two banks of players behind the ball and for his part he has done his job. It's Veh's to try to break it down now.
Another good piece of defending from Prodl. Joselu's eyes lit up as he was found inside the box, but from nowhere the centre-back came across to put it behind. He's really earned his money this afternoon, Prodl.
BOOKING: Prodl finally gets something wrong as he took down Rode late. Play continued and Aigner slashed a shot well over the bar, but the referee went back to the incident and booked the Werder captain.
CHANCE! Inui does really well at the far post to head back across goal for Joselu, but the striker sliding in at the far post couldn't turn it in. This will be a long 15 minutes for Werder.
CLOSE! Decent strike there from Meier, who gets a sight of goal not far out. He tries to wrap it into the far corner, but doesn't get enough on it and the effort goes wide.
WERDER SUB: Gebre Selassie is on for Obraniak for the visitors. Fresh legs in defence there, can Werder hang on?
CHANCE! Wolf is brave there and that's a really good piece of goalkeeping. A cross from the right is fizzed in to Joselu, but Wolf does enough to turn it wide. He's hurt but he won't mind if that earns his team a point.
Bremen are happy to give up space on the flanks in order to pack the middle for crosses to come in. It has worked up to now despite a lot of crosses and corners. I'm not sure if Frankfurt have that creative player needed to unlock them this afternoon.
WERDER SUB: Di Santo makes way for Eljero Elia late on. Interesting move that - can the Dutchman force Frankfurt back a little bit with the threat of his pace?
Half-chance for Russ, but he'd have had to have done really well to score from there. The cross came in for deep and he swivelled with a volley but could only fire over.
MISS! Oh dear Meier! Inui finally got the better of Ignjovski there, cutting on to his right to cross but somehow the unmarked Meier headed wide from about six yards out. That was the chance.
There will be four minutes added on here.
Bargfrede goes into the book for catching Inui late. Absolutely definite yellow card there!
CHANCE! Aigner is in space at the far post and the ball somehow gets through to him, but again Wolf spreads himself big and manages to get it behind. I don't think it's happening...
FULL TIME: Frankfurt 0-0 Werder
Werder somehow survive! Thanks for joining me for this - I'll be on Hannover against Bayern very shortly, so do join me over there. See you then.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
