Ducksch brace sees Werder Bremen defeat Stuttgart

Stuttgart shaded the opening stages of this clash against a Werder Bremen side who were winless in ten games prior to today. Serhou Guirassy's freekick faded wide early on while Deniz Undav spurned a fantastic one-on-one opportunity to give the Swabians an early lead. 

However, it was Bremen who struck first on the stroke of the hour. Jamie Lewelling felled Felix Agu inside the box, offering referee Robert Schröder no option but to award the spot kick. Marvin Ducksch assumed duties and slammed it home. Stuttgart almost equalised later in the half as Maxi Mittelstädt's cross was met by Undav but the striker was denied by the aluminium. 

Unhappy with his side's efforts, Sebastian Hoeneß acted by introducing Führich and Stenzel. However, four minutes after the interval Bremen forged a 2-0 lead. Romano Schmid delivered the perfect cross to set up Ducksch for his second of the afternoon. 

Little changed until the 72nd minute when Undav halved the defecit. Fine work from Führich down the left flank cut it in to the German striker who pounced on some slack defending. A late VAR check for a potential Stuttgart penalty was eventually waved clear. Werder Bremen hung on to secure all three points.