BREMEN, Germany (Reuters) -Borussia Dortmund were held to a 0-0 draw at Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Saturday, with centre back Nico Schlotterbeck sent off in the second half.
After an underwhelming first half, the visitors were more aggressive following the interval, with substitute Karim Adeyemi making an instant impact with an effort from more than 20 yards out. But Bremen goalkeeper Michael Zetterer was in place to deny the forward.
Dortmund were reduced to 10 men in the 73rd minute when Schlotterbeck received a second yellow card for sliding in on Bremen forward Justin Njinmah.
The solid Bremen defence then withstood the late pressure from Dortmund to secure a point at home.
Dortmund had 54% possession and were bereft of ideas for the most part, registering only four shots on target.
They nevertheless defended brilliantly after losing Schlotterbeck and made it hard for Bremen to find gaps.
Dutchman Donyell Malen had a chance to snatch a winner in injury time, but Zetterer held on as Dortmund failed to score in Bremen for the first time since May 2011.
Dortmund continued their unbeaten start to Bundesliga under new head coach Nuri Sahin, having won 2-0 at home in their opener against Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend.
"The coach has given us a good plan. In the game, it's the little things that decide whether you make it to the top or not," Dortmund midfielder Pascal Gross said.
"We found it difficult to carve out clear goalscoring opportunities. Bremen are a well-coordinated team and put up a good fight. We were only partially successful in asserting ourselves.
"Two games to nil, four points — that's not the end of the world. Of course, there are a few things we need to improve."
But with reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich making winning starts in the league, Dortmund, who last won the Bundesliga in 2011, will look to return to winning ways when they host Heidenheim on Friday.
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
