Bremen fight back to draw with ten-man Dortmund | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund - SV Werder Bremen | matchday 19 | match report | highlights

In a match that epitomised the unpredictable nature of football, Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at Signal Iduna Park. The fixture came at a crucial time for both sides, with Dortmund winless in 2025 and under the guidance of interim coach Mike Tullberg following Nuri Şahin's dismissal. Bremen, led by Ole Werner, entered the match seeking their first victory of the calendar year, setting the stage for a high-stakes encounter.

Nico Schlotterbeck's early red card left Dortmund a man down for much of the match. (IMAGO/RHR-FOTO)

Dortmund defy odds after early setbacks

The match began with an early blow for Dortmund as Felix Nmecha was forced off due to injury in the 12th minute, replaced by Marcel Sabitzer. The situation worsened in the 21st minute when Nico Schlotterbeck was shown a straight red card for a foul on Marco Grüll. However, despite these setbacks, Dortmund managed to break the deadlock in the 28th minute. Serhou Guirassy, capitalising on excellent work from Julian Ryerson and Julian Brandt headed home from close range to give the ten men an unlikely lead.

Serhou Guirassy nods home the surprise opener after Dortmund had gone a man down. (IMAGO/RHR-FOTO)

VAR drama and Bremen's comeback

The hosts' resilience was further rewarded in the 51st minute when a shot from Guirassy deflected off Marco Friedl for an own goal, doubling Dortmund's advantage. The goal underwent a VAR check for a potential offside but was ultimately awarded. Werder Bremen, spurred on by their numerical advantage, mounted a spirited comeback. Leonardo Bittencourt, introduced as a substitute, reduced the deficit in the 65th minute with a spectacular long-range effort that flew into the top corner. The momentum had shifted, and just seven minutes later, Marvin Ducksch completed the comeback. The Bremen striker, found by an excellent pass from Jens Stage, calmly slotted past Gregor Kobel to level the scores at 2-2.

Leonardo Bittencourt scored a screamer to get Bremen back in the match. (IMAGO/RHR-FOTO)

A tale of two halves

The match statistics tell the story of a game of two distinct phases. Despite playing with ten men for over 70 minutes, Dortmund managed to maintain 49% possession and create quality chances, as evidenced by their slightly higher xG of 1.52 compared to Bremen's 1.3. However, Bremen's numerical advantage showed in their superior shot count (14 to 8) and pass accuracy (84% to 79%). The intensity of the contest was reflected in Dortmund's higher sprint count (235 to 207), highlighting their extra effort to compensate for the red card.

Player of the Match: Serhou Guirassy

In a match filled with standout performances, Serhou Guirassy emerged as the player of the match. The Dortmund forward not only scored the opening goal but also played a crucial role in forcing the own goal that put his ten-man side 2-0 up. His ability to lead the line effectively and create chances while his team was a man down was instrumental in Dortmund securing a point from a challenging situation. Guirassy's performance epitomized the fighting spirit of the home side and was key to their resilience against the odds.

Bundesliga Match FactsxGoals: Borussia Dortmund 1.52 - Werder Bremen 1.3Fastest player: Justin Njinmah (SVW), 33.71 km/hLowest goal probability: 2-1 by Leonardo Bittencourt (SVW), 4.35 percentMost pressed player: Romano Schmid (SVW), 27 times under pressurePass efficiency: Miloš Veljković (SVW), +3.28

Fantasy Heroes: Miloš Veljković (SV Werder Bremen, 264 Points), Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund, 223 Points), Romano Schmid (SV Werder Bremen, 232 Points)

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