Werder Bremen held by Heidenheim in relegation playoff

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Relegation Playoff 1st Leg - Werder Bremen v Heidenheim - Weser-Stadion, Bremen, Germany - July 2, 2020 Heidenheim's Maurice Multhaup in action, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Carmen Jaspersen/Pool via REUTERS

Werder Bremen’s top-flight status was hanging by a thread after they were held to a goalless home draw by second-tier Heidenheim in the first leg of their Bundesliga promotion/relegation playoff on Thursday.

In a match with few chances, the closest either side came to scoring was a stoppage-time opportunity for Bremen midfielder Leonardo Bittencourt that was blocked by a defender when he had the goal at his mercy.

Four-times German champions Bremen, who finished the game with 10 men after a late second yellow card for Niklas Moisander, are looking to retain their top-flight status having spent just one season outside the Bundesliga since it was formed ahead of the 1963-64 campaign.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Relegation Playoff 1st Leg - Werder Bremen v Heidenheim - Weser-Stadion, Bremen, Germany - July 2, 2020 Werder Bremen's Milot Rashica in action with Heidenheim's Marnon Busch, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Carmen Jaspersen/Pool via REUTERS

Heidenheim finished third in Bundesliga 2 and have never played in the top flight. They will host the second leg on Monday.

(Reporting by Nick Said, editing by Ed Osmond)

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Relegation Playoff 1st Leg - Werder Bremen v Heidenheim - Weser-Stadion, Bremen, Germany - July 2, 2020 Werder Bremen's Jiri Pavlenka reacts, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Carmen Jaspersen/Pool via REUTERS