Werder defeated 2-1 by Udinese in final dress rehearsal | OneFootball

Mbangula made his debut in the friendly against Udinese (photo: W:DE).

Mbangula makes his debut at the Weserstadion

SV Werder Bremen’s final friendly before the start of the competitive season ended in defeat on Saturday afternoon. In front of 27,500 fans, the Green-Whites were beaten 2-1 by Serie A club Udinese Calcio in the first game back at the Weserstadion this term. The Italians took a half-time lead through Keinan Davis (28’) and Matteo Palma (37’), while Romano Schmid got one back for Werder through a penalty (53’).

Bittencourt misses golden chance, Udinese ruthless in attack

Not much in it! Bittencourt's fires narrowly wide of the far post (photo: W.DE).

First-half highlights:

1’:  While Schmid is down after a collision, Udinese break on the counter. Kamara eventually gets the shot off, but Backhaus blocks the effort with his shoulder.

27’: The best chance so far! After a Werder free-kick, the Green-Whites threaten in the opposition box. Stark guides a mis-kick from Schmid into the path of Bittencourt, whose close-range effort whistles just wide of the far post.

28’: Udinese capitalise at the other end. Brenner’s pass finds Davis on the left edge of the box, who feints his way past Lynen. The English forward fires his effort into the bottom-right corner.

36’:  Lovric attempts a shot from a 25-yard free-kick. Backhaus produces a strong save to force the corner.

37’: Udinese go on to convert the corner. Lovric’s delivery is sent into the mixer and lands at the feet of Palma, who pokes the ball home for the Italians.

Schmid claws one back from the spot

Schmid converted confidently from the spot (photo: WERDER:DE).

Second-half highlights:

53’: Schmid scores from the spot! The Austria international shoulders the responsibility and fires the ball into the bottom-left corner. Sava dives the right way, but the well-placed penalty is just beyond his reach.

56’: Grüll makes a marvellous run into the penalty area and crosses to Mbangula at the far post. The Belgian’s timing is off, and he heads the ball wide.

74’: Palma is in the right place again following a free kick. Coulibaly manages to head the delivery away, but the ball lands right in the path of the goalscorer. The defender brings the ball down with his chest and shoots, but a great reaction from Zetterer sees the keeper turn the effort onto the crossbar.

90+4’: Full time. Werder are beaten 2-1 by Udinese Calcio. The Green-Whites are back in action on Friday, 15th August at 20:45 CEST, playing away at Arminia Bielefeld in the first round of the DFB-Pokal.

Summary: Udinese pressed Werder intensely in phases and demanded a lot from the Green-Whites. Just as Werder were growing into the game and had the opportunity to grab the lead, the Italians struck ruthlessly. After clawing one back in the second half, SVW began to apply the pressure and created a string of good chances. However, Werder just couldn’t find an equaliser.

Match statistics

SV Werder: Backhaus (46’ Zetterer) - Agu, Stark, Friedl (46’ Coulibaly), Deman - Bittencourt, Lynen - Grüll, Schmid, Mbangula (62’ Covic) - Topp (80’ Opitz)

Udinese Calcio: Sava (83’ Padelli) - Palma (76’ Kabasele), Kristensen (76’ Bertola), Solet (89’ Ballarini) - Ehizibue (76’ Zemura), Karlström (83’ Zarraga), Lovric (62’ Ekkelenkamp), Kamara - Atta (62’ Bravo), Brenner (62’ Piotrowski) - Davis (46’ Bayo)

Goals: 0-1 Davis (28’), 0-2 Palma (38’), 1-2 Schmid (53’)

Yellow cards: Coulibaly, Deman / Ehizibue, Solet, Zarraga

Referee: Felix Bickel

Attendance: 27,500