Clemens Fritz nets brace, assist as Werder Bremen run past Schalke

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:05 am
Werder Bremen overcame a deficit to beat Schalke on Sunday.
Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images

Werder Bremen came from behind to beat Schalke 3-1 with Clemens Fritz impressing at the start of the final few months of his career.

Schalke made their best start to a Bundesliga game all season with a goal after just four minutes, thanks to Joel Matip's header from Johannes Geis' corner, but they wasted chances to add to their lead.

Bremen levelled two minutes before half-time through Fritz, who marked his 300th Bundesliga appearance with a goal.

Fritz announced over the winter break that he is going to retire in the summer, but that he wants to do all he can between now and then to ensure Bremen stay up.

True to his word, he added to his goal by sending a cross deep for another Bundesliga veteran Claudio Pizarro to make it two 10 minutes into the second half.

More was to come from the Bremen captain, whose determined run culminated in a cross which Anthony Ujah turned in to make it three in the last minute, sealing a crucial win for Bremen, who climbed four points clear of the bottom two.