Matchday 16: Werder Deals Leipzig a Blow, Draws 1-1
In a thrilling clash during matchday 16, SV Werder Bremen managed to halt RB Leipzig's impressive winning streak, securing a 1:1 draw at the Weser Stadium. Despite four consecutive victories, Leipzig failed to leapfrog second-place FC Bayern in the Bundesliga table, leaving them momentarily in fourth position.
Justin Njinmah (75') evened the score after Lois Openda (47') had initially put Leipzig ahead. Both teams left unsatisfied but also undaunted, as Werder edged past VfL Bochum to take 13th place in the table.
At the outset, Bremen's offensive strategy seemed to falter, with Leipzig dominating the pitch, particularly in Werder's half. Just 50 seconds into the match, a chance fell to Castello Lukeba, who shot against the post below Anthony Jung's attempted clearance.
With the game still goalless, a minute's silence was held before kick-off as a tribute to Israeli supporter Inbar Haiman, a Maccabi Haifa supporter who had been taken captive and eventually killed by Hamas. The Werder Bremen Ultras maintain a fan friendship with Maccabi Haifa.
Bremen struggled to gain a foothold in the game, with Leipzig controlling the action. Leonardo Bittencourt had an opportunity to score for Leipzig after approximately 22 minutes, but his long-range shot missed the mark. Michael Zetterer then cleared a shot from Xavi Simons shortly afterwards.
Despite Leipzig's vulnerabilities in defense, the cup winners from Saxony typically demonstrated resilience, even in the face of opposition pressure. However, this time, Bremen capitalized on a wobble in Leipzig's defense. Despite conceding at least one goal in their last ten matches, Leipzig briefly lost their footing.
Bremen missed a chance fifteen minutes into the first half, with Felix Agu's attempt being cleared off the line by Lukeba. Jens Stage also had an opportunity, but his volley failed to hit the mark. Suddenly, Leipzig regained the momentum, with Yussuf Poulsen heading in a goal following a rebound off the post, although it was deemed to be slightly offside.
Emil Forsberg played his penultimate game for RB Leipzig and played a significant role in the team's victory against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim a few days prior. He provided the assist for Openda's goal with a well-timed pass, but it took the Belgian several attempts to score.
Bremen persisted, determined to halt their losing streak against Leipzig. Marvin Ducksch produced a strong shot that struck the crossbar (55'), narrowly missing the equalizer. A few minutes later, Forsberg's time in Leipzig came to an end, and his teammates sought to celebrate his departure on a high note. Unfortunately, Openda missed his chance to help secure a Leipzig victory.
Instead, it was Werder Bremen that seized the opportunity when Justin Njinmah found the net, ensuring a well-deserved draw to conclude an engrossing Bundesliga clash.
Originally published on December 12, 2024, by the Stern, this article explains how Werder Bremen halted RB Leipzig's winning streak during the 2024-25 Bundesliga season.
Enrichment Data
The match between Werder Bremen and RB Leipzig took place at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, with Xavi Simons delivering a brilliant performance for Leipzig with a first-half double. Benjamin Šeško also displayed impressive skills, scoring a long-range goal, as did Christoph Baumgartner. RB Leipzig eventually won the game 4-2, simultaneously ending their four-game winless streak and temporarily settling for fourth in the Bundesliga standings.
