76 seconds in and Wes wins a header. Banged it off the Werder guy's head, so Schalke didn't keep possession, but still. More stats-minded people: does that count as an aerial duel won or lost?
Since you asked, I'm not convinced he's 100%. But it's a small sample size and they're still warming into the game.
Looks to me like Wes is on the right side of a dual defensive midfield. Covering a lot of ground, Schalke has doesn't well in possession so far, so Wes's first 8 minutes have mostly been closing down space.
Great through ball to McKennie who was oddly far upfield into the right corner - soft cross across the face of goal goes bizarrely untouched by either team, perhaps because of a slip-up by Embolo. Second-best chance for Schalke so far - Caligiuri hit a nice free kick earlier that Pavlenka made a solid save on.
McKennie fouled by Klaasen and stays down for 15 seconds - back up with a slight probably temporary limp.
First yellow of the game to Max Eggestein, leads to free kick from the flank - ball falls to Nastasic from about 12 yards, whose controlled shot toward the corner is nicely saved by Pavlenka. Almost a great open for Schalke.
McKennie getting higher in the attack than I expected - making some off the ball runs to get in behind the defense. Schalke has dominated the last 15 minutes, drawing two yellows and getting the better opportunities.
GOAL EMBOLO! Schalke up 1-0. ASSIST MCKENNIE on a header to put Embolo behind the defense, calm finish. Again, Wes playing very high, yet tracking all the way back on defense.
Wes with a decent flick on, striker did the hard work to put it away. Wes covers a ton of ground yet never looks like he’s really running fast. Just kind of glides around. Guess it is good anticipation, he gets a head start in his movements
Against the run of play, equalizer for Bremen by Rashica. Bremen scores every game, so I guess we should have assumed it was coming.
WM also won a header late in Bremen's box to put a teammate through but the teammate was called offside...does that also count as a header won? He's looked very good, though Embolo has stolen the show so far. WM has a great understanding and anticipation of space, can affect both sides of the ball just due to positioning and ability to win/get touches on balls. Hope he goes 90, looks like he can at the halfway mark
Good first half from the two teams - good quality seeing as how neither is a top of the table club. McKennie has played box-to-box, all the way up with the last defensive line to receive long balls and through passes in attack, but tracking all of the way back on defense. Good job winning the header that assisted Embolo's goal. Bremen has been mostly attacking down their left, which is McKennie's side as he is shading right. Wes hasn't actually been involved in too many tackles, though that could be coincidence and Bremen building up the flanks more than anything else.
McKennie wins a header in the box right to Burgstaller, who touches a bouncing ball to McKennie, who tries the highlight-reel half-volley and puts it over.
Wide-open stuff now, and McKennie makes his first tired-looking weak defensive play. Give this to Schalke - they seem very comfortable losing 4-1 as long as they give the full effort to pull level first.
Disorganized, perhaps tired, or not enough guys back defense leaves Rashica open at the back post, cuts back to the middle and shoots around advanced keeper and goal-line defender. 3-1 Bremen.
GOAL EMBOLO off of a corner from Oczipka. Can they steal a point? 3-2 now. Should be a wide open few minutes.