Sargent continues his starting streak for Bremen as they host Hoffenheim today. Die #Werder-Startelf für #svwtsg.🔥 ⏳ #Kapino, #Möhwald, #Rashica, #Osako, #Schmid, #Toprak, #Chong, #Gruev, #Woltemade⏰ 18:00 Uhr📺 https://t.co/oBFw7h1YdQ🎧 https://t.co/4YASNu4ELi👔 https://t.co/bNEvc4Ir0v pic.twitter.com/BeHKDp3pQS— SV Werder Bremen (@werderbremen) October 25, 2020 A-U-F-S-T-E-L-L-U-N-GDieses Team schickt Sebastian Hoeneß auf den Rasen ⤵️#SVWTSG pic.twitter.com/eeEaXShMa4— TSG Hoffenheim (@tsghoffenheim) October 25, 2020 Bremen and Hoffenheim are neighbors in the table in 9th and 10th - Bremen has 7 points from the opening 4 matches, Hoffenheim 6. Bremen's last match was a 1-1 draw with Freiburg 8 days ago, while Hoffenheim come into today off a 2-0 Europa League win v. Red Star Belgrade. Kickoff is at 1 PM Eastern on ESPN+.
5': A goal for Werder Bremen! Eggestein in the middle, to Selassie on the wing, back to Eggestein at the edge of the area, great first-time finish.
Sargent's playing much more centrally so far, which is good. It's a pretty straight-up 3-5-2 for Bremen. Fullkrug is playing as the more advanced of the two forwards, while Sargent is sitting a little deeper. He hasn't been very involved through the first 12 minutes though.
Hoffenheim gets their first decent chance in the 22nd minute off a fortunate deflection. Rudy collects the ball in the area, plays a nice ball across the area, and Geiger hits another great first-time finish, right into the top corner. 1-1
Bremen seems constitutionally incapable of moving off the ball. Everything is so static. When they have possession, their movement is so nonexistent that it seems like they're setting up a solid defense. It's odd.
Sargent just had a terrific driving run with the ball that started in his own penalty area. He smartly laid the ball off to Eggestein in midfield, turned on the afterburners, and got behind the defense well. Eggestein's pass into the area wasn't directed well, which allowed Vogt to cut off Sargent's angle to the ball. There was some contact in the box between Vogt and Sargent, but no foul was called (correct decision). Good initiative from Sargent.
Fullkrug goes off with an injury in the 37th, and is replaced by Osako. No shape change for Bremen, at least for the rest of the half. Osako is sitting further up the field, Sargent still playing a little more withdrawn.
Bittencourt with a no-hope prayer of a shot in the 39th that flies straight into Osako. He somehow draws a foul during the shot attempt as he blasts the Hoffenheim defender in the undercarriage. The ensuing free kick, also from Bittencourt, goes narrowly wide.
Hoffenheim put together a couple of decent chances at the end of the half, but couldn't convert them, so it's 1-1 at the break. Sargent had the one good run, but has otherwise been a complete non-factor.
The second half has been quintessential Bremen: ********ing BORING There has been one shot attempt in 18 minutes. It came from Hoffenheim in the 48th minute, and it was blocked. Some good hold-up play by Sargent in midfield leads to positive comments from the announcers, calling him "one of Kohfeldt's favorites" and "the first name on the teamsheet, along with Pavlenka."
Watching Bremen is hard on the eyes. Their level of technical ability is low. This season they are just grinding out wins and ties to survive.
Bittencourt has three passing options as he's on the edge of the area, but instead rips a contested shot well wide. Selfish. Next attack, Bittencourt misplays a pass to Sargent described by the color commentator as "more for Usain Bolt than Josh Sargent." "Creative midfielder" Bittencourt has now completed 12 of 17 passes through 72 minutes.
It seems to me Sargent has been one of Bremen's more active players. Hold up play isn't bad and seems to be fairly active in the transition game.