Borussia have kicked off 2017 with a Bundesliga victory, picking up a hard-fought but ultimately deserved 2-1 (1-1) win away to SV Werder Bremen on Matchday 17, meaning they remain unbeaten in the first league game after the winter break for the 13th year in a row.

The 42,100 spectators at a sold-out Weserstadion witnessed an entertaining encounter in which BVB started brightly, taking a deserved fifth-minute lead through Schürrle before spurning chances to double their lead. Bremen did not threaten until towards the end of the first period but were denied by Weidenfeller (34) and the woodwork (45+3). After the restart a battling Bremen, who had been reduced to ten men following Drobny's dismissal (39), restored parity through Bartels (59) but the visitors hit back to snatch a deserved winner through Piszczek (71).

Dennis-Julian Gottschlich reporting

The scenario:
Thomas Tuchel's sixth-placed side were hoping to kick off their New Year catch-up mission as they look to narrow the gap to the Champions League places – they are currently three points off third – while Bremen, down in 15th, needed points to maintain their lead over the relegation spots (currently three points ahead of 16th). Borussia Dortmund had won four of their previous five trips to Bremen, scoring 15 goals in those four victories.

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Sokratis declared himself fit and was included in the starting XI.

Personnel matters:
The Black and Yellows were without Aubameyang (African Cup of Nations), Bender (torn lateral collateral ligament in ankle), Bürki (fitness), Mor (back problems), Rode (fitness) and Subotic (conditioning). Sokratis was fit enough to play after injury and lined up alongside Ginter in central defence, while Dembélé had sufficiently recovered to start on the bench. Schürrle took Aubameyang's place in attack. Bremen were without Bargfrede (Achilles heel problems), Grillitsch (shoulder injury), Hajrovic (knee injury) and Junuzovic (fibre tear).

Tactics:
Borussia fielded the same 4-3-3 formation as they did in the recent friendly in Paderborn with Castro and Kagawa flanking Weigl in the midfield trio, while the speedy Pulisic and Reus lined up on the wings. Schürrle spearheaded the attack but repeatedly drifted out to the flanks too. Werder opted for a defensive 5-2-3 formation with Bartels and Garcia expanding the three-man rearguard into a back five. 

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Pizarro (l.), engages in an aerial battle with Schmelzer but later had to be substituted off after Drobny's red card to make space for reserve shot-stopper Wiedwald.

The match & analysis:
Thomas Tuchel's team were clearly the superior side in the opening stages, with six shots to Bremen's zero in the first quarter of an hour as Werder struggled to deal with the full force of Dortmund's offensive power. Only five minutes had gone when Schürrle scored after taking advantage of Gnabry's misplaced pass and rounding Drobny in the box, then breaking the deadlock with his first goal for the Black and Yellows from a centre-left position. Shortly afterwards he came close to doubling that lead from 15 metres but lost his footing and failed to get enough power behind the shot, allowing Drobny to make a fingertip save (11). The Bremen custodian followed that up by keeping out Schürrle's header from a Kagawa cross. The hosts were initially kept so busy in defence that attacks were limited to counters. After one such foray forward Bartels fired goalbound from 15 metres out but Weidenfeller made a comfortable save (18).

From that moment on SVW – later aided by the removal of Gnabry and a tactical switch to a back three – started to get a foothold in the game. With just over half an hour on the clock, Kruse was inches away from latching onto a free-kick at the far post (31). Then, minutes later, Weidenfeller comfortably saved a long-range effort from Delaney (34), whose shot on the turn from 12 metres out barely 60 seconds later was brilliantly blocked by the 36-year-old's foot.

Drobny dismissed, Fritz hits woodwork

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Castro pulled the strings in midfield.

At the other end Bremen were reduced to ten men for a foul on Reus, who had received the ball from Castro and was clean through when he was upended by Drobny around 25 metres from the Werder goal. Referee Siebert showed no hesitation in brandishing the red card (39). SVW boss Nuri reacted by substituting forward Pizarro and bringing on back-up goalkeeper Wiedwald in his stead. The ensuing free-kick was fired narrowly wide by Schürrle in the 43rd minute. On the stroke of half-time Wiedwald saved a Reus effort that had been deflected by Fritz (45+2), before Werder came close at the other end, again through Fritz, whose shot from 17 metres struck the underside of the bar before bouncing down but goal-line technology showed that the ball had not crossed the line (45+3). 

The Westphalians looked to put clear daylight between themselves and their hosts after the restart but spurned chances through Kagawa (49) and Castro (51), then came close with a dangerous low free-kick that was cleared by Sane at the last minute (55). A short while later Wiedwald made an excellent one-on-one save against Reus (58), and the visitors were made to pay for those wasted opportunities just one minute later when Bartels pulled free of the Dortmund defence following a throw-in and side-footed into the bottom right corner from 15 metres to make it 1-1 (59). BVB were struggling against ten-man Bremen but showed spirit as they battled on.

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Drobny's studs left a mark on the thigh of Marco Reus, who was fortunately able to continue. The Werder 'keeper was sent off for the foul.

Piszczek redeems BVB

In the 69th minute, Reus received the ball with his back to goal following a fine headed pass from Ginter but his shot sailed wide of the far post. It was to be his final involvement. Thomas Tuchel brought on Guerreiro and Dembélé and urged his team forward. It paid immediate dividends when Guerreiro chipped the ball towards the six-yard box from 18 metres following a corner. With Sane rooted to the spot appealing for offside, the unmarked Piszczek lifted the ball delicately over Wiedwald and into the net (71). Pulisic had the chance to put the game beyond Bremen's reach with a header a minute later but a Werder player got a leg to the ball, then Schürrle was thwarted by Wiedwald with an effort from the edge of the box (85). Werder once again threw everything forward but did not seriously threaten the BVB goal.

Prospects:
Next Sunday (29 January, 17:30 CET) sees BVB travel to 1. FSV Mainz 05 for their second away league match in a row.

Teams & goals