Four time Bundesliga champions Werder Bremen live to fight another day in the Bundesliga. Bremen narrowly avoided relegation on away goals. Remarkably, Bremen have spent more time in the Bundesliga than any other team, including Bayern Munich. They’ve only been relegated once previously in 1980/81, an amazing run.
Werder Bremen Live To Fight Another Day
Following a goalless first leg at Bremen’s Weserstadion, a 2-2 draw at second-division Heidenheim was enough to maintain their stay in the German top flight.
The Bundesliga club started the game well when an own goal from Heidenheim defender Norman Theuerkauf gave them the lead after just three minutes.
Following such an early goal it took over 80 minutes for the action to spark to life once more. Heidenheim who were searching for their first taste of top-flight football equalised through Tim Kleindienst.
Bremen’s Swedish left-back Ludwig Augustinsson restored the visitors lead with a 94th-minute strike. Despite Kleindienst adding a penalty eight minutes into stoppage time, Bremen could celebrate after securing their Bundesliga status.
Manager Florian Kohfeldt could be delighted with his team’s stay of execution after it seemed they were doomed at various points during the season.
Heidenheim boss Franck Schmidt who has been with the club for 13 years, will be resigned to another campaign in Bundesliga 2 when the 2020/21 season gets underway after a short break. This is obviously not the result he wanted, and he may feel Heidenheim were cheated out of a Bundesliga place, after they had an amazing run in the second division, only being denied Bundesliga placement on away goals, without fans.
A welcome boost to the club’s finances also awaits as interest in their star man Milot Rashica hots up. The Kosovan winger who has been linked with RB Leipzig and Liverpool would have been available for a cut-price release clause had Bremen been relegated. However, his clause will now remain above the £30 million mark.
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