Jamie Leweling’s rocket inspires Stuttgart to 4-0 triumph over 10-man Werder Bremen
Jamie Leweling starred for VfB Stuttgart, assisting Bilal El Khannouss before turning goalscorer with a spectacular long-range strike as Sebastian Hoeneß’s side win in emphatic fashion, bringing an end to Werder Bremen’s four game unbeaten streak at the Weserstadion.
Bremen and Stuttgart entered this fixture looking to end three-match winless runs in the Bundesliga. The hosts had made the Weserstadion something of a fortress, collecting 11 of their 16 points at home and remaining unbeaten in their last four matches there.
Stuttgart, meanwhile, were looking to bounce back from their heaviest defeat under Sebastian Hoeneß – a 5-0 loss to Bayern Munich. History suggested goals were guaranteed, with no goalless draws in 56 previous Bundesliga meetings in Bremen.
Bremen bright early before Stuttgart seize control
Justin Njinmah returned to the starting lineup after his goalscoring exploits against Hamburg, and it was the Bremen forward who sparked early danger, firing narrowly wide in the third minute before forcing two saves from Alexander Nübel in quick succession.
Stuttgart weathered this early pressure and nearly took the lead when Deniz Undav chipped Mio Backhaus, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside.
The visitors eventually broke the deadlock five minutes before half-time when Jamie Leweling delivered a pinpoint cross for El Khannouss to head home. Moments later, Leweling himself doubled Stuttgart's advantage with a spectacular long-range effort that swerved in the air beyond Backhaus.
Red card ends Bremen hopes as Stuttgart cruise
Any hopes of a Bremen comeback suffered a double blow early in the second half. First, captain Marco Friedl was forced off with a shoulder injury in the 57th minute. Just two minutes later, disaster struck when Karim Coulibaly received a second yellow card for a rash challenge on Atakan Karazor, reducing Bremen to 10 men.
Stuttgart ruthlessly exploited their numerical advantage, controlling possession and creating numerous chances. Leweling continued his masterclass in the 79th minute, setting up Undav for a clinical finish to make it 3-0.
The rout was completed deep into stoppage time when substitute Chris Führich, who had replaced El Khannouss, fired home from inside the area after good work from Maximilian Mittelstädt.
Man of the Match: Jamie Leweling
Leweling delivered a performance of the highest quality, directly contributing to three of Stuttgart's four goals. His explosive pace and precise delivery created the opener for El Khannouss before he produced a moment of individual brilliance with a stunning 32-metre strike that flew past Backhaus.
The winger continued to torment Bremen's defence in the second half, providing the assist for Undav's goal to seal the result. Leweling's combination of goal threat and creativity proved too much for Bremen to handle, with his display earning him the Man of the Match award with 367 fantasy points.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Werder Bremen 0.68 - VfB Stuttgart 2.05
Fastest player: Josha Vagnoman (Stuttgart), 35.4 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 0-2 by Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), 1.6 percent
Most pressed player: Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart), 22 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Jeff Chabot (Stuttgart), +3.46
Fantasy Heroes: Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart, 367 Points), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart, 326 Points), Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart, 308 Points)
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