Werder Bremen have turned falling behind into an art form. For the third Bundesliga game running, Daniel Thioune’s side found themselves two goals down, and for the third game running they clawed their way back. Saturday’s 2-2 against promoted Paderborn made Werder the first team in the league’s history to take points from a 0-2 deficit three times in a row.
The setting was festive: the Weserstadion celebrated its 100th birthday, and the home team played in a special all-white kit. Paderborn, however, did not care for the party. Stefano Marino finished a quick break with a fierce shot into the top corner after 18 minutes, and Steffen Tigges doubled the lead before the half-hour, pouncing after a long throw was not cleared.
Visiting goalkeeper Nahuel Noll then produced save after save, and for a while it looked as if he would steal the afternoon. The turnaround came just after the hour. Regeer launched the ball forward from deep, Eren Dinkçi flicked it into the path of Niclas Füllkrug, and the striker kept calm to beat Noll. Only minutes later Paderborn’s Laurin Curda handled in the box, and the striker sent the penalty into the corner.
Bremen pressed for a winner and Füllkrug, Mitchell Weiser and Youri Regeer all had chances, but Paderborn nearly had the final word: in stoppage time substitute Rayan Philippe hit the inside of the post.
For Füllkrug, the two goals were his fifth and sixth of the season, and he has now scored in five consecutive Bundesliga matches for the first time in his career. The earlier escapes came in a 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund and a 3-2 win at Augsburg. A record is nice, Werder fans will say, but next time a lead would be even nicer.
