Füllkrug extends scoring streak as Bremen climb to fifth after beating Hoffenheim

Second-half goals from returnees Niclas Füllkrug and Eren Dinkçi secured a home win for Werder Bremen against TSG Hoffenheim. With their first back-to-back victory, the hosts climbed to fifth in the standings.

Daniel Thioune had to make an early substitution as Mitchell Weiser suffered another setback after making his return from a long-term injury. To no one's surprise, Füllkrug had Bremen's first real chance before Marco Grüll's header narrowly missed the target.

Hoffenheim's best chance of the first-half came in the 45th minute when Amos Pieper cleared Adam Hložek's header from the goal line. The Czechia international was also instrumental in Hoffenheim's first chance after the break, but Youri Regeer denied Fisnik Asllani.

Füllkrug started the second-half strongly as Oliver Baumann had to make a decent save from his powerful effort minutes before he got his customary goal. The 33-year-old striker won a physical tussle against Hoffenheim's defense before firing an unstoppable shot for his ninth goal of the season.

Asllani had a couple of half chances to bring back Hoffenheim into the game, but Bremen dominated the proceedings after their goal. And first-half substitute Dinkçi sealed the win for the hosts eight minutes from time with a composed finish after Grüll's league-high sixth assist of the season.

Bremen rose to fifth place after winning back-to-back games in Bundesliga for the first time this season. Füllkrug extended his scoring run to eight games in all competitions. Meanwhile, Hoffenheim suffered back-to-back defeats in the cup and Bundesliga.