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Points shared as Werder draw with Frankfurt
MATCH REPORT FOLLOWING THE HOME GAME AGAINST EINTRACHT FRANKFURT
16/01/26
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SV Werder Bremen have drawn 3-3 with visitors Eintracht Frankfurt in the first reverse fixture of 2025/26. At a sold-out Weserstadion, Justin Njinmah (29'), Jens Stage (78') and Jovan Milošević (80') netted for the Green-Whites, although the goals were ultimately cancelled out by strikes from Arnaud Kalimuendo (1'), Nathaniel Collins (56') und Ansgar Knauff (90+5').
FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTSEARLY SHOCK AND A DESERVED LEVELLER
Head coach Horst Steffen deployed an unchanged line-up to take on Eintracht, with the 11 Green-Whites who started in Dortmund all keeping their places for the first home game of 2026. The match got off to a tricky start for SVW, as Frankfurt managed to take an early lead after just 52 seconds. Ritsu Doan switched the play from a wide-right position, finding Nathaniel Brown at the back post. The latter managed to tee up Arnaud Kalimuendo in the box, who lifted the ball over Mio Backhaus to open the scoring (1’).
Werder tried to shake off the shock of the early goal, which they did with more success as the match progressed. Their first big chance came from an attractive pass through the lines from Jens Stage to give Justin Njinmah free rein to drive at Kauã Santos, although Werder’s number 11 just pulled the shot wide from 18 yards out (20’). The forward made up for it ten minutes later. This time it was Yukinari Sugawara who threaded a ball through the Frankfurt defence to hit the run of Njinmah, who burst past Nnamdi Collins and slipped the ball past Santos before wheeling away in celebration (29’).
Werder continued to dominate the game for most of the first half, albeit failing to create any further clear-cut chances. Both Jens Stage (45+2’) and Isaac Schmidt (45+5’) tried their luck from distance, although neither effort was hit accurately enough to pose any danger of putting SVW ahead.
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SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTSComeback seemingly complete, Eintracht leave it late
The Green-Whites emerged from the dressing room full of energy and attacking drive. Head coach Horst Steffen’s side combined well on several occasions and regularly worked the ball neatly up to the edge of the penalty area. Werder couldn’t quite get it right inside the box to truly test Kauã Santos in the early stages of the second 45, though.
Down the other end, a momentary lapse of concentration led to Werder falling behind once again. During a build-up phase, Collins won possession for Frankfurt. Kalimuendo then played in Chaïbi, who lifted the ball into the area. Werder’s defenders weren’t decisive enough as the play passed them by, allowing Collins himself to tap the ball home and make it 2-1 to the visitors (56’).
SVW showed no signs of backing off, however. Hearts in the Weserstadion were set racing once more in the 68th minute – it was Njinmah again who latched onto a through ball from Stage, although the rapid forward’s effort narrowly whistled past the far post.
It was Frankfurt who had the next big opportunity, with a chance to wrap up the match in the 77th minute, but Farès Chaïbi couldn’t make the most of a golden position. It proved to be a miss that would go on to spark late drama at the Weserstadion. Just moments after the big chance, Stage sent the ground into raptures with Werder’s second of the night. A free-kick delivery from substitute Samuel Mbangula was lifted into a crowded box, and the Dane thumped the leveller into the back of the net with a well-placed header (78’). It only took two minutes for the stadium to erupt once again. Romano Schmid chased down a superb pass from Mbangula, kept his composure at the edge of the box and teed up Jovan Milošević. The new signing kept his nerve and struck low into the bottom-right corner, finishing coolly to make it 3-2 (80’).
Deep into stoppage time came a bitter blow for Werder. After a cross in from Collins, Ansgar Knauff tapped in the equaliser for SGE. Although referee Benjamin Brand and his team initially judged Collins’ cross to have gone out of play, VAR intervened. The ball was still in, the goal was awarded, and the match subsequently ended in a draw.
SV Werder Bremen will next run out on Saturday, 24 January, as they travel to Bayer Leverkusen. The Green-Whites have midweek football to look forward to after the affair, as the postponed home game against TSG Hoffenheim has been scheduled for Tuesday, 27th January. Werder will round off a busy week with a visit from Borussia Mönchengladbach on 31st January.
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Match statistics
SV Werder Bremen: Backhaus – Pieper, Friedl, Coulibaly – Sugawara, Stage, Lynen, Schmidt (64' Milošević) – Schmid, Grüll (75' Mbangula) – Njinmah (89' Topp)
Eintracht Frankfurt: Kauã Santos - Collins, Koch, Theate – Kristensen (52' Knauff), Skhiri, Dahoud (65' Uzun), Brown – Doan, Chaibi – Kalimuendo
Goals: 0-1 Kalimuendo (1'), 1-1 Njinmah (29'), 1-2 Collins (56'), 2-2 Stage (78'), 3-2 Milošević (80'), 3-3 Knauff (90+5')
Yellow cards: Schmid / Theate, Doan, Amaimouni-Echghouyab, Brown
Referee: Benjamin Brand
Attendance: 41.800 (sold out)
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