Werder Bremen 2 : 0 VfB Stuttgart - Bremen beat struggling Stuttgart

Posted Sunday, November 09, 2014 by PA

Werder Bremen won their second game running to plunge Stuttgart into the relegation zone with a 2-0 victory at the Weser Stadion.

Sebastian Prodl and Fin Bartels scored the goals for a side who have transformed since Viktor Skripnik replaced Robin Dutt as coach.

They also reached the last 16 of the DFB-Pokal under their new coach, who has now led them to three wins, while Saturday's victory takes them off the foot of the Bundesliga, a position now occupied by Borussia Dortmund.

Bremen have turned things around since Skripnik took the reins from Dutt, while Franco Di Santo has been the biggest beneficiary, moving to the top of the scoring charts with his recent goals.

He was looking to add to his six goals for the season so far and he was Bremen's most dangerous player in an opening in which Stuttgart never really looked at risk of conceding.

In fact, with Martin Harnik leading their line, the Swabians posed a greater threat, although the Austrian fell inches short of converting their best chance in the 21st minute.

While nothing was going Bremen's way before Skripnik took charge, the situation is now different and it was they who took the lead against the run of play on the half-hour mark.

Zlatko Junuzovic's cross was headed powerfully by Prodl past Thorsten Kirschbaum with the ball taking a deflection off Antonio Rudiger on its way in.

Stuttgart had the chance to reply immediately, but Christian Gentner headed wide when it seemed easier to hit the target.

Harnik continued to lead Stuttgart's assault, but he was denied by Raphael Wolf in the closing minutes of the first half.

Stuttgart's promising start to the second half was stifled by Bartels when he doubled Bremen's lead from another Junuzovic assist, with the aid of the right-hand upright.

That was effectively game over for Stuttgart, who could not summon the strength to respond.

Di Santo wasted chances to get his name on the scoresheet for the seventh time this season, but he was nonetheless part of his team's second win of the season, one which lifts them off the foot of the table.