Werder beaten by Leipzig in first game of 2025

Match report following away game at RB Leipzig

Romano Schmid stretches for the ball against RB Leipzig.
The Green-Whites began a new calendar year with defeat (Photo: W.DE).
Match Report
Sunday, 12.01.2025 / 17:25

SV Werder Bremen were beaten 4-2 by RB Leipzig in their first match of 2025. The hosts took the lead in the 23rd minute through Xavi. The Green-Whites hit back quickly though via Mitchell Weiser (26’). Xavi put RBL ahead again before half time, however (35’). Benjamin Sesko added a third in the 47th minute, before Christoph Baumgartner wrapped up the win for Leipzig in the first minute of injury time. Oliver Burke got one back just before full time.

Line-up and formation: ‘Never change a winning team’ seems to have been head coach Ole Werner’s mantra as he named the same starting eleven who impressed in both the 2-0 victory at FC St. Pauli and the 4-1 home win over Union Berlin. Marvin Ducksch was fit to start after a thyroid operation.

Justin Njinmah also returned to the squad after ankle problems saw him miss out against both St. Pauli and Union Berlin at the end of last year. Our January loan arrival Issa Kaboré was named on the Green-Whites’ bench for the first time.

Starting line-up: Zetterer - Stark, Friedl, Jung - Weiser, Lynen, Köhn - Stage, Schmid, Grüll, Ducksch

Subs: Backhaus - Pieper, Bittencourt, Njinmah, Veljkovic, Burke, Malatini, Alvero, Kaboré

Xavi hits a double

First-half highlights:

9th minute: Zetterer punches away a powerful free kick from Leipzig’s Raum.

11th minute: So nearly the opener after a huge chance for Werder! Schmid advances forward and plays it wide to Grüll, who finds Schmid again in the middle. The ball comes off his chest and goes narrowly wide of the post.

12th minute: Friedl sticks out a leg on the halfway line to stop Sesko breaking through. He is shown his fifth yellow card of the season, meaning the Werder captain will miss the game against Heidenheim.

20th minute: The hosts have started winning many of the battles. Sesko feeds Openda, who hits the ball first time, but it goes wide.

23rd minute: After a throw-in, Xavi finds himself through on goal and leaves Zetterer with no chance from around 16 yards.

26th minute: The Green-Whites though aren’t deterred by falling behind and hit back straight away! Grüll backheels it through to Weiser, who beats Gulacsi in the penalty area!

35th minute: Leipzig counter quickly and it’s Xavi again who sprints into the penalty area before letting fly. His deflected strike beats Zetterer.

A tough start to the second half

Second-half highlights:

47th minute: Sesko shoots from around 20 yards out and hammers the ball into the top-right corner.

53rd minute: The Green-Whites are now trying to settle down, but also continue to go forward. Ducksch plays it to Weiser, who runs into the box but sees his shot blocked by Raum.

61st minute: The hosts come forward again after winning the ball back quickly. Sesko shoots again, but luckily, this time it’s wide.

63rd minute: Leipzig are now on top and creating more chances. Openda is denied by Zetterer from a tight angle.

67th minute: Werder’s new loan signing Kaboré replaces Köhn to make his debut for the Green-Whites.

77th minute: Zetterer is tested again twice. Openda tries his luck, as does Nusa from the left side of the penalty area.

79th minute: Seiwald’s free kick lands at the feet of Orban, who puts it narrowly wide.

81st minute: Leipzig push for the fourth goal. Nusa dribbles past half of the Green-Whites’ defence before striking the post.

90th minute: The hosts get another through substitute Baumgartner.

90th minute +3: Burke shows his pace to punish a Leipzig mistake, and coolly finishes past Gulacsi to make it 4-2.

90th minute +5: Full time.

Summary: The Green-Whites put in a brave performance, particularly in the first half, but Leipzig were clinical as Xavi punished two lapses in concentration. SVW did manage an equaliser through Weiser, but when Sesko added a third for the hosts at the start of the second half, Werner’s side could not come back from that. Instead, Leipzig had chances to add to their lead, and Baumgartner did just that. Burke then got another one back in injury time. A fifth yellow card for Friedl means that our captain will miss the upcoming home match against Heidenheim on Wednesday.

Match stats

RB Leipzig: Gulacsi - Klostermann (88’ Geetruida), Seiwald, Orban, Raum (65’ Baku) - Vermeeren, Kampl (75’ Haidara) - Nusa, Xavi (65’ Baumgartner) - Openda, Sesko (88’ Silva)

SV Werder: Zetterer - Stark, Friedl (46’ Veljkovic), Jung - Weiser, Lynen (88’ Bittencourt), Köhn (67’ Kaboré) - Stage (87’ Njinmah), Schmid, Grüll (67’ Burke), Ducksch

Goals: 1-0 Xavi (23’), 1-1 Weiser (26’), 2-1 Xavi (35’), 3-1 Sesko (47’), 4-1 Baumgartner (90’), 4-2 Burke (90’+3)

Referee: Tobias Reichel

Spectators: 47,187

 

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