VfB Stuttgart and Werder Bremen shared the spoils in a tightly contested Bundesliga clash at MHPArena, with Ermedin Demirović's second-half equalizer canceling out Jens Stage's early opener.
Stuttgart dominated possession and territory throughout the match but ultimately failed to convert their superiority into three points. Bremen, sitting 15th in the table, showed resilience to earn a draw against the fifth-placed hosts. The result leaves Stuttgart on 56 points from 30 games, while Bremen remains on 31 points.
Stage gave Bremen an early advantage in the 18th minute. The midfielder struck decisively to put the visitors ahead at a venue where Stuttgart had been expected to control proceedings. The goal gave Bremen confidence despite being the away side with significantly less possession.
Stuttgart responded to going behind by increasing their attacking intensity. The hosts created numerous chances but struggled with their finishing in the opening 45 minutes. Angelo Stiller and Chris Führich worked tirelessly in midfield to build attacking moves. However, Bremen's defense held firm through the first half.
The home side maintained their pressure as the first half progressed. Stuttgart accumulated 13 corner kicks and 69 percent possession. Their expected goals stood at 1.63 compared to Bremen's 1.0, showing their dominance. Despite this control, they trailed at the interval.
Stuttgart emerged with renewed purpose after the break. The hosts pressed higher and attacked more directly. Their patience paid off when Demirović equalized in the 61st minute. The substitute's clinical finish leveled the match and shifted momentum firmly toward the home side.
Following the equalizer, Stuttgart pressed for a winner. They created several opportunities but could not find a breakthrough. Bremen defended resolutely, with goalkeeper saves keeping them in the contest. The visitors limited their own chances but remained organized defensively.
The match became increasingly stretched as both teams sought a decisive goal. Stuttgart's Führich created chances for teammates but lacked the final touch. Bremen's Yukinari Sugawara made a key pass that showed the visitors could still threaten on the counter.
Stuttgart finished with 18 total shots but only four on target. Bremen managed nine shots with three finding the goalkeeper. The hosts completed 618 passes at 89 percent accuracy, while Bremen's 288 passes showed their defensive approach. Neither team managed a second goal despite several late opportunities.
The draw keeps Stuttgart in fifth place but fails to close the gap on the teams above them. Bremen picked up a valuable point in their fight against relegation, moving closer to safety. Both sides will view this result differently based on their league positions and ambitions.
Stuttgart hosts their next opponent on May 3rd, while Bremen travels to face a fellow mid-table side. The hosts will be frustrated not to have converted their dominance, while Bremen will take heart from their defensive performance against a superior opponent.
