Werder Bremen stun Bayer Leverkusen with shock 2-0 win
Werder Bremen secure a surprising 2-0 victory against Bayer Leverkusen, with goals from Romano Schmid and Justin Njinmah. Bayer Leverkusen's struggles compounded by Florian Wirtz's injury in a match that could impact the Bundesliga title race.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-2 Werder Bremen
Goals: 0-1 Schmid 7' (assist: Stage), 0-2 Njinmah 90'+4 (assist: Topp)
Leverkusen's 22-match unbeaten run in the Bundesliga came to a surprising end as they fell to a 2-0 defeat against Bremen at the BayArena. The visitors, who had lost their previous five competitive matches, stunned the hosts with an early goal and a resilient defensive display. Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso made significant rotations to his starting lineup, likely with an eye on their upcoming UEFA Champions League fixture against Bayern Munich but the gamble backfired as Bremen capitalised on their opportunity.
Schmid strikes early
The match began with a shock for the home fans as Schmid put Bremen ahead in the seventh minute. The Austrian midfielder pounced on a defensive error by Mario Hermoso, finishing clinically from close range to give the visitors an unexpected lead. Leverkusen, despite dominating possession, struggled to create clear-cut chances against a well-organised Bremen defence. Patrik Schick came close for the hosts in the 28th minute, but his effort went wide. The hosts' best opportunity of the first half came in stoppage time when Aleix García's free-kick struck the crossbar, leaving Leverkusen frustrated at the break.
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Wirtz injury compounds Leverkusen's woes
Alonso introduced Florian Wirtz at half-time in an attempt to change the game, but the young star's involvement was short-lived. In the 53rd minute, Wirtz was on the receiving end of a heavy challenge from Mitchell Weiser, which resulted in a yellow card for the Bremen player. The Leverkusen midfielder tried to continue but was eventually forced off in the 59th minute, dealing a significant blow to the hosts' comeback hopes.
Bremen's resilience shines through
As the second half progressed, Leverkusen increased the pressure on Bremen's goal, but the visitors' defence remained resolute. Michael Zetterer in the Bremen goal was in inspired form, making several crucial saves to maintain his team's lead. Zetterer denied Exequiel Palacios in the 72nd minute and Jeremie Frimpong in the 81st minute as Leverkusen pushed for an equaliser. The hosts thought they had levelled when Miloš Veljković put the ball in the net in the 31st minute, but it was ruled out for offside. Similarly, Bremen had a goal disallowed in the 65th minute when Oliver Burke was caught offside.
Njinmah seals the deal
Just as it seemed Leverkusen might salvage a point, Bremen struck again in stoppage time. Njinmah, who had come on as a substitute in the 69th minute, broke free on a counter-attack and calmly slotted past Lukáš Hrádecký to secure a 2-0 victory for the visitors. The goal was a fitting end to a match where Bremen's clinical finishing and solid defending proved too much for a Leverkusen side that lacked their usual spark, despite enjoying 68% possession and forcing 10 corner kicks throughout the match.
Player of the Match: Michael Zetterer
While Schmid and Njinmah will rightfully receive plaudits for their goals, Bremen's goalkeeper Zetterer was the standout performer. The 28-year-old made several crucial saves throughout the match, frustrating Leverkusen's attackers and providing a solid foundation for Bremen's defensive efforts. Zetterer's performance was key to Bremen keeping a clean sheet despite facing significant pressure from the hosts, with Leverkusen managing 15 shots in total.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Leverkusen 1.27 - Bremen 1.7
Fastest player: Arthur (Leverkusen), 35.2 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 0-1 by Romano Schmid (Bremen), 35 percent
Most pressed player: Amine Adli (Leverkusen), 28 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Aleix García (Leverkusen), +4.83
Fantasy Heroes: Romano Schmid (Bremen, 250 Points), Aleix García (Leverkusen, 235 Points), Felix Agu (Bremen, 222 Points)
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