Werder Bremen travelled to Leipzig on matchday 13, where they were beaten 2-0 after a hard-fought encounter in front of 40,172 fans inside the Red Bull Arena. Despite the result, Werder can take some heart from what was, for the most part, a positive performance. But in the end, it was the home side who made the most of their chances.
Lineup and formation: Florian Kohfeldt changed things up after the victory against Hannover last time out, switching to a more defensive 3-5-2 formation. The only change in personnel was a forced one, with Lamine Sané brought in to replace short-term absentee Zlatko Junuzovic (calf problem). Sané was fielded at the heart of the three man defence between Milos Veljkovic and stand-in captain Niklas Moisander, with Ludwig Augustinsson and Theodor Gebre Selassie taking up their usual positions at left and right wing back respectively. In midfield, Philipp Bargfrede sat in behind Maximilian Eggestein and Thomas Delaney, while last week’s hero Max Kruse was again partnered up front by Fin Bartels.
The first chance fell to the hosts, as Klostermann found Werner at the far post, but Veljkovic was quick to clear and deny the Germany international. The Green-Whites quickly found their way into the game, however, and pushed forward win numbers. Eggestein struck from close range, but was unable to test RB keeper Gulacsi.
Pavlenka was first called upon in the 17th minute, when Demme and Keita linked up well before the former fired towards the top corner to force a save from the Werder shotstopper. Orban thought he had scored the opener, but was correctly ruled out for offside.
The hosts broke the deadlock soon after when Delaney’s attempted clearance fell straight at Keita’s feet and the Guinean slotted left-footed into the bottom corner.
Despite going behind, Werder continued to pushed forward in search of a goal, but their efforts proved fruitless as the half drew to a close. But Bremen almost bounced back early in the second period, when Augustinsson’s free kick into the six-yard box was headed inches wide of the left post by Leipzig defender Upamecano.
Moments later, Eggestein played the ball through to Delaney, who beat Bernardo before swinging the ball perfectly into Bartels, whose attempted overhead kick was too central in the end. Werder continued to press for the equaliser, but were dealt the hammer blow in the 87th minute when Bernardo fired in from the edge of the box.
Summary: Despite taking a somewhat more conservative approach to the game than he did against Hannover, Green-Whites boss Kohfeldt will have been pleased to see his side come out and compete with Leipzig from the off. Werder created chances throughout the first half, but it was the final pass which often let the visitors down and, as the first period progressed, Liverpool-bound Naby Keita began to exert his influence. Even so, Werder could perhaps have considered themselves a little unlucky to go a goal down; a Thomas Delaney deflection bounced kindly for Keita, who found the corner of the net with a precise finish that left Jiri Pavlenka with no chance. The second half saw Kohfeldt look to increase Werder’s options going forwards, brining the attack-minded Florian Kainz on in place of Bargfrede. It almost paid off as Fin Bartels went close with a powerful drive, but Leipzig keeper Peter Gulasci saved well to keep Werder at bay. In the end a late goal from Bernardo put the game out reach.
