Werder equalise twice to earn a point against the defending champions

Match report following 2-2 home draw against Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Show Matchcenter

Weiser shoots the ball as Grimaldo watches on.

The Green-Whites put in a hard-fought performance to earn their first point at the Weserstadion in 2024/25 (Photo: nordphoto).

Match Report

Saturday, 26.10.2024 / 20:30

SV Werder Bremen took a point off defending champions Bayer 04 Leverkusen after a hard-fought performance at home on Saturday evening. A total of 42,100 spectators packed into a sold-out Weserstadion as the Green-Whites struck twice after trailing. Victor Boniface (30') opened the scoring, before Marvin Ducksch netted Werder's first home goal of the season (74'). The Green-Whites then conceded an unfortunate own goal through Felix Agu (77'), before Romano Schmid's late strike secured a deserved point for the side (90').

Line-up and formation: Head coach Ole Werner made one change to his side with Amos Pieper coming in for Anthony Jung, who is currently dealing with an adductor issue.

Werder's starting line-up: Zetterer - Pieper, Ducksch, Weiser, Bittencourt, Lynen, Grüll, Schmid, Malatini, Agu und Friedl.

Bench: Backhaus - Deman, Jung, Njinmah, Veljkovic, Burke, Köhn, Hansen-Aarøen und Topp.

Werder start strongly, Leverkusen take the lead

Marvin Ducksch and Lukas Hradecky slap hands.

Hradecky does well to deny Ducksch (Photo: WERDER.DE).

First-half highlights:

1st minute: Werder go close just seconds after kick off, as Ducksch is able to get off a shot. Goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky is able to get a hand to it, however.

14th minute: Another excellent chance for the Green-Whites! Weiser plays a clever pass to spring Ducksch, with our number 7 through on goal. The ball bounces awkwardly, however, as Ducksch is unable to generate enough power on it to dink it over Hradecky.

19th minute: Ducksch again! Bittencourt switches the ball and finds Schmid. The Austrian is able to lay it off for Ducksch, who strikes the ball well and forces Hradecky into a diving save to push it over the ball.

30th minute: Leverkusen take the lead. Jeremie Frimpong delivers a cross into the box, where Victor Boniface is able to turn it in at the near post.

45th minute +4: Werder have been able to create several chances during the first 45 minutes, but haven't been able to make them count.

Werder fight their way back twice

Ducksch celebrates together with Marco Friedl.

Marvin Ducksch scored Werder's first home goal of the season (Photo: WERDER.DE).

Second-half highlights:

54th minute: Grimaldo strips Weiser of the ball as Bayer 04 counter quickly. Wirtz looks to pick out Boniface, but Zetterer is able to deny the striker with an excellent save.

68th minute: Hradecky denies Ducksch yet again after the striker takes aim from the edge of the penalty box.

74th minute: Werder are level! Malatini delivers an excellent cross to Ducksch, who leaps into the air and heads the ball into the back of the net. Hradecky has to watch it sail past him and in at the far post.

77th minute: Leverkusen retake the lead after an unfortunate own goal from Agu. The defender looks to clear the ball away from an onrushing Frimpong, but instead mishits the ball so that it sails into the wrong goal.

84th minute: The ball falls to Wirtz after a corner, but his shot only rattles the post.

90th minute: Another equaliser! Köhn dances his way past several Leverkusen players before cutting the ball back to Schmid. The midfielder shifts the ball to his right foot and curls a wonderful shot into the back of the net.

90th minute +4: Full time! SV Werder see their efforts rewarded by taking a point off of the defending champions from Leverkusen.

Summary: Werder's solid performance in the first half saw them create several chances for themselves, although they were unable to finish them off. Leverkusen, in contrast, were clinical in front of goal and found themselves with a narrow lead at the break. The visitors then enjoyed more of the ball after the change of ends, but Werder remained tight at the back and continued to set accents in attack. In the end, their efforts were rewarded with a point after coming from behind to equalise twice.

Match facts:

SV Werder: Zetterer - Malatini (87' Topp), Friedl, Pieper (82' Jung) - Weiser, Lynen, Agu (82' Köhn) - Bittencourt (69' Njinmah), Schmid - Grüll (82' Burke), Ducksch

Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Hradecky - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié - Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo - Terrier (82' Aleix Garcia), Wirtz - Boniface (70' Schick)

Goals: 0-1 Boniface (30'), 1-1 Ducksch (74'), 1-2 Agu (77', OG), 2-2 Schmid (90')

Referee: Florian Badstübner

Spectators: 42,100 (sold out)