Ducksch makes two statements
Werder Bremen surprises VfB Stuttgart
April 21, 2024, 5:31 p.m
VfB Stuttgart runs vehemently in the final minutes, but Werder Bremen’s final offensive is not rewarded by the Swabians. Striker Marvin Ducksch scores a brace for the hosts. It is the perfect answer to the criticism of the past few weeks.
Marvin Ducksch beamed and patted himself on the chest – and the whole of Bremen took a deep breath: Led by the recently hapless and desperate striker, SV Werder broke their winless streak against the strong VfB Stuttgart and took a big step towards staying in the league. Coach Ole Werner’s team celebrated their first three-pointer after seven unsuccessful games with a 2-1 (1-0) win in the Bundesliga and clearly moved away from relegation place 16. “It was a lot of hard work, definitely. I have to give the boys a huge compliment,” said match winner Ducksch happily.
Ducksch ended his dry spell that had been going on since the beginning of February with a brace (28th/foul penalty, 49th) – the 30-year-old recently made it clear that the increasing criticism was bothering him. He therefore complained that he felt he was being treated unfairly. “If I were to speak from the fans’ point of view, they would hope that I would be gone in the summer,” the attacker said in the “Kicker meets DAZN” podcast at the beginning of the week. After his goal, he formed his hands into a heart and let the spectators celebrate him.
“A little clashed during the week”
“We owe that to the fans. Today we played a really, really good football game,” said Bremen’s Romano Schmid on the DAZN microphone and added in the direction of Ducksch, whose second goal he had prepared: “During the week we are still one We had a bit of a fight, but this time he gave us three points.”
European Championship candidate Deniz Undav shortened the gap for Stuttgart with his 17th goal of the season (71st). VfB, led by coach Sebastian Hoeneß, nevertheless suffered their first defeat after eleven point-scoring games and missed the opportunity to draw level with FC Bayern again on points. Nevertheless, the Swabians remain on course for the Champions League – and the runner-up finish is still a possibility.
The pressure was clearly on the Green-Whites before kick-off. Werder had recently continued to lose its comfortable lead. “We are five match days before the end and ultimately have everything in our own hands,” coach Werner said: “That’s the positive. Nevertheless, we have to be extremely alert.” This applied to goalkeeper Michael Zetterer. Already in the 5th minute of the game, the 28-year-old was at his best against national player Undav, who once played for Werder in his youth but only really got off to a flying start in the south. That’s what Nick Woltemade, who will probably be moving from the Weser to the Neckar after the season, also has in mind, and Bremen registered a long-range shot on Alexander Nübel’s goal (19th).
Werder shines in direct play
But Stuttgart remained the more structured and dangerous team until Werder proved its qualities in direct play: The combination before the penalty whistle via birthday boy Mitchell Weiser and Felix Agu was impressive. Undav missed the equalizer with a header that hit the crossbar before the half-time whistle (44′).
After the break the game really picked up speed. First, Woltemade missed the chance to make it 2-0 (48th). Then Jamie Leweling was denied by the strong Zetterer on the other side (49′). In return, Bremen extended their lead to 2-0. After a sharp cross from Romano Schmid, Ducksch was there in the middle. For the first time since the 3-1 win against Freiburg at the end of January, the fan classic “Ducksch is on fire” was heard again in the Weser Stadium. Werder then defended passionately, but fell into danger. In the final phase, VfB called for a penalty after an alleged foul on Guirassy (85th). But referee Robert Schröder, with the support of the VAR, decided against it, to Hoeneß’s frustration.