RB Leipzig boost UEFA Champions League qualification hopes after clinical win at Werder Bremen
RB Leipzig secured a valuable 2-1 win at Werder Bremen with goals from Antonio Nusa and Rômulo to strengthen their UEFA Champions League push
Werder Bremen 1-2 RB Leipzig Goals: 0-1 Nusa 15’, 0-2 Rômulo 52’, 1-2 Musah 90'+4 (assist: Milošević)
Two teams in good form faced off at the Weserstadion as Bremen hosted Leipzig on Matchday 28. Both sides had won three of their previous four Bundesliga matches, with Bremen opening up a seven-point gap on the relegation zone and Leipzig reigniting their push for Champions League qualification.
The match marked a significant return for Leipzig head coach Ole Werner, who spent three-and-a-half years in charge of Bremen before departing in May 2025. Bremen boss Daniel Thioune was still in the early days of his tenure, having recorded three wins and four defeats since taking over from Horst Steffen at the start of February. The home side were hampered by an extensive injury list, with Victor Boniface, Mitchell Weiser and Keke Topp among those unavailable.
Bremen started brightly, with the hosts enjoying more possession in the opening exchanges. Justin Njinmah had an early opportunity but dragged his shot wide after being set up by Felix Agu. The home side continued to probe, and Romano Schmid tested Maarten Vandevoordt with a decent effort from inside the box following good work from Njinmah.
Leipzig draw first blood
Against the run of play, Leipzig struck first in the 15th minute. A swift counter-attack saw Rômulo holding up play on the edge of the box before the ball fell to Nusa, who clinically fired into the bottom corner from outside the area, giving Mio Backhaus no chance.
Bremen responded well to falling behind, and Cameron Puertas squandered a golden opportunity to equalise when he wriggled away from Castello Lukeba only to drag his shot narrowly wide.
Schmid forced another save from Vandevoordt as the half wore on, but Leipzig's defence held firm to preserve their lead at the break.
Bremen suffered an early setback in the second half when Amos Pieper had to be replaced by Patrice Čović following a head injury. This disruption proved costly as Leipzig doubled their advantage just minutes later. Christoph Baumgartner worked his way into the box and, after Agu's attempted intervention, the ball fell kindly to Rômulo who calmly slotted it home from close range.
Thioune responded by bringing on Samuel Mbangula and Yukinari Sugawara in an attempt to claw their way back into the match. Leipzig remained dangerous on the break, however, and Yan Diomande should have made it three when he chipped over both Backhaus and the crossbar when clean through.
Bremen continued to push forward, and Salim Musah, who had replaced Njinmah in the 76th minute, eventually gave the home fans something to cheer about when he scored his first Bundesliga goal in stoppage time. The youngster kept his composure to finish after being set up by Jovan Milošević, but it proved to be merely a consolation as Leipzig held on for a valuable away win.
Man of the Match: Antonio Nusa
Nusa was the standout performer at the Weserstadion, demonstrating precisely why Leipzig brought him in from Club Brugge last summer. The Norwegian winger's opener showcased his clinical finishing, but his overall contribution went far beyond just his goal. Playing on the left side of Leipzig's attack, he consistently troubled Bremen's defence with his pace and direct running.
The 21-year-old worked diligently without the ball too, pressing effectively and helping his side maintain their defensive shape when Bremen were in possession. This performance on his 50th Bundesliga appearance highlighted why he's becoming an increasingly important player for both Leipzig and the Norway national team.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Bremen 0.51 - Leipzig 0.35
Fastest player: Njinmah (Bremen), 35.04 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-0 by Nusa (Bremen), 4 per cent
Most pressed player: Puertas (Bremen), 17 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Backhaus (Bremen), 2.04
Fantasy Heroes: Nusa (Leipzig, 265 Points), Rômulo (Leipzig, 250 Points), Vandevoordt (Leipzig, 215 Points)
