Former Chelsea misfit Franco Di Santo keeps Werder Bremen in Europa League hunt with winner against Hamburg 

  • Werder Bremen defeated Hamburg SV 1-0 in the Bundesliga on Sunday
  • Bruno Labbadia has returned as coach to save Hamburg from relegation 
  • Wolfsburg meet Schalke 04 in the later game on Sunday 

Werder Bremen edged past bottom club Hamburg SV 1-0 courtesy of an 84th-minute penalty by Franco Di Santo that kept them in the running for a Europa League spot.

Argentine Di Santo converted his spot-kick for his 13th goal of the season after Hamburg's Valon Behrami had brought down Zlatko Junuzovic and was sent off as new Hamburg coach Bruno Labbadia made a losing return to their bench.

Franco Di Santo celebrates after scoring the winner for Werder Bremen in 1-0 defeat of Hamburg

Franco Di Santo celebrates after scoring the winner for Werder Bremen in 1-0 defeat of Hamburg

The former Chelsea and Wigan forward celebrates scoring the winner recently against Hamburg

The former Chelsea and Wigan forward celebrates after beating Rene Adler from the spot

Werder players celebrate in front of their fans after keeping their Europa League hopes alive

Werder players celebrate in front of their fans after keeping their Europa League hopes alive

Werder moved up to seventh on 38 points with victory in the northern derby, leaving Hamburg in last place on 25 with five matches left in the season.


Labbadia returned to Hamburg this week, tasked with saving their proud Bundesliga record. Hamburg are the only team never to have played in the second division since the creation of the Bundesliga in 1963.

Former West Ham playmaker Valon Behrami leaves the pitch after being shown a red card

Former West Ham playmaker Valon Behrami leaves the pitch after being shown a red card

New coach Bruno Labbadia has been tasked with preventing Hamburg from going down for the first time ever

New coach Bruno Labbadia has been tasked with preventing Hamburg from going down for the first time ever

Second-placed VfL Wolfsburg, on 60 points, will look to cut Bayern Munich's lead back to 10 points when they take on Schalke 04 later on Sunday.

The Bavarians are top after their 2-0 victory over Hoffenheim on Saturday. Bayer Leverkusen are third on 54 points following their 4-0 demolition of Hanover 96.