Werder Bremen 3-1 vs. Sampdoria, Champions League Play-Off, First Leg - Full Time Report
Werder Bremen started with their 4-3-1-2 formation, with Hunt deployed as the playmaker to support the two strikers, Hugo Almeida and Claudio Pizarro. Usually Mesut Ozil would have occupied the supporting position, but unfortunately for Werder Bremen, the German youngster recently signed for Real Madrid. Their opponents, the Italian underdogs Sampdoria, started off with their customary 4-4-2 formation, with Giampaolo Pazzini and Antonio Cassano leading the attack. Sampdoria have improved, finishing fourth in the Serie A, and were determined to get past the qualifying stages and earn a place in the Champions League.
Werder Bremen started off with the advantage, earning a free kick in the 2nd minute. Bremen Captain Torsten Frings was brought down just 25 yards outside the Sampdoria penalty box, and Almeida lined up to take the shot. His shot was powerful, but lacked precision and went wide off the left post. Sampdoria had the next chance at goal just a minute later; Pazzini found himself at the end of a brilliantly delivered free kick, but the striker could not quite keep it down and the chance for an early lead went to waste.
Even though in the initial stages the match was just end to end, the legendary crowd at Weserstadion lived up their reputation. Encouraged by their fans, Bremen launched an attack, only nothing came of it as Frings shot with his left foot and the ball went wide, past the far post. Despite their persistent attacks, it was Sampdoria who managed to score first. Unfortunately, the referee called an offside and the revitalized attack was wasted.
15 minutes into the match and the German side was dominating, but it was not reflected on the score-line, as the score was still 0-0. Things got a little tense when Massimo Volta came down with a heavy tackle; he was duly punished with a yellow card. Play continued, and with every passing minute, Bremen got more confident and the intensity of their attack increased. They came close to scoring again as Almeida’s shot beat the keeper, but lost out to the crossbar.
Pizarro and Philipp Bargfrede came close to scoring for Bremen and forced the Sampdoria goalkeeper into making some very amazing saves. Frings tried his luck from a distance, but it was off target and the goalkeeper was not bothered too much. At half time, the score remain 0-0. Bremen were understandably getting frustrated; they had expected to have scored at least one goal at their home-ground.
Bremen must have had a very convincing locker room halftime talk, because 5 minutes into the second half, Clemens Fritz scored. A defensive error by the Sampdoria defence left Fritz in shooting range, and he took full advantage of that and the shot off his left foot hit the back of the net. From there onwards, Bremen were in the driving seat; constant attacks, solid defence and dangerous corners. Sampdoria were starting to get desperate at that point and Lucchini got a second yellow after a rash challenge in the penalty area; he earned his side a player less and Bremen a penalty.
Frings was not going to waste this opportunity and converted the penalty with ease. Werder Bremen were now leading 2-0, as expected. The icing on the cake came just 2 minutes later in the 69th minute, when Pizarro scored Bremen’s third goal. The former Chelsea striker had no problem beating Curci and burying the shot in the near post. At 70 minutes, it was obvious that the match was over; Sampdoria were struggling with possession and were having a hard time containing the Bremen attack.
A surprise goal by Pazzini earned Sampdoria a consolation. Not much, since they conceded 3 goals and will have a hard time making up for it in the second leg. Werder Bremen dominated from the start; there was a chance for Sampdoria to regain control, but that went to waste when Lucchini saw red and Sampdoria were down to 10 men. After that, it was Bremen’s game and it is somewhat a miracle that Sampdoria managed to score at all.
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