The game was an interesting match-up in terms of formations – Bremen played a 4-3-1-2 / 4-4-2 diamond system, with Aaron Hunt shuttling across the pitch into wide areas, hoping to impress after the departure of Mesut Oezil.
...
On paper, Bremen’s formation suffers from a distinct lack of width, which would be all the more problematic considering they field two strikers, Claudio Pizarro and Hugo Almeida, who thrive on crosses. In reality, however, they manage to find width in three separate ways – the shuttlers either side of the diamond move gradually into wide zones, the full-backs take up advanced positions to stretch the play, and finally – and most crucially – Hunt plays an unusual role – nominally a trequartista but almost always ending up in wide areas on both sides of the pitch.
...
Hunt, the key figure of the first half. His distinctive role made it very hard for Sampdoria to pick him up – the Italians’ midfielders were concerned with their opposite numbers, the centre-backs had a powerful centre-forward each to deal with, and the full-backs were reluctant to be drawn out of position to come and meet him in semi-central positions.
...
There was a goal after just five minutes of the second half, however. Hunt was far quieter in the second half, but had a part to play in the goal. Sampdoria had let him run free in the opening period, but Di Carlo had clearly given his players strict instructions to close him down ferociously in the second. Daniele Mannini helped Reto Ziegler double up against him in Sampdoria’s left-back zone, but this left Fritz free. After Tissone’s pathetic attempt at a clearance, Fritz had time to line up a shot and smash the ball into the far corner.
...
Bremen were excellent and played a clever game – dominating possession in the centre of the pitch, narrowing Sampdoria, before bringing their full-backs into play and finding the creative Hunt in dangerous positions.