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No way through: Werder defeated in Leverkusen
MATCH REPORT FOLLOWING THE GAME AWAY AT BAYER LEVERKUSEN
24/01/26
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SV Werder Bremen have begun a busy week of football in disappointing fashion after suffering a 1-0 defeat away at Bayer 04 Leverkusen. In front of 30,210 supporters at the BayArena, Werder managed to create a number of chances in the first half especially, although struggled to break down their opponents in the second 45 and head home empty-handed as a result.
FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTSSchick STRUCK OFF, Vázquez makes it count
Head coach Horst Steffen stuck to the same starting XI that he’d selected for the 3-3 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend, although with substitute Samuel Mbangula absent from the squad due to personal reasons. Werder grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck from the off, starting well and testing Janis Blaswich on several occasions. Marco Grüll knocked a quickly taken free kick into the path of Jens Stage, although the effort was hit straight at B04’s keeper (3’). Justin Njinmah was the next to be denied, set up brilliantly by Romano Schmid but crowded out by the Leverkusen defence and unable to take his chance (6’).
The Werkself made their first mark on the game from a quick corner, with the ball landing right at the feet of Loïc Badé in the 6-yard box, although danger was averted as Mio Backhaus was quick to dispossess the centre-half. Werder then spent the next few minutes a man down, as Backhaus had managed to catch Amos Pieper in the knee when clearing the danger, and the defender was forced to leave the pitch for treatment. Leverkusen made the most of this advantage as Patrik Schick beat the keeper following a ball in from Badé (12’), although after a quick review from the Video Assistant Referee, the goal was chalked off for a handball from the Czechia international (14’).
The hosts continued to push for an opener that would stand, with Ernest Poku coming the closest on 18 minutes, firing high over Backhaus’ bar following a golden ball into the box. The Green-Whites looked determined to create their next big chance down the other end, combining well around the Leverkusen box. Marco Grüll went down after contact from Ibrahim Maza, although referee Tobias Reichel deemed there to be not enough in it to give a penalty (26’). The Austria international laid the ball off for his countryman Romano Schmid following a corner, although Werder’s number 20 was denied a stunning opener after an impressive save from Blaswich (27’).
It was his Green-White counterpart’s turn to show up for his side upon B04’s next big chance, with Poku proving quicker than Werder’s defenders and setting up a one-on-one contest with Backhaus. The Germany U21 international came out on top to deny the forward (34’), but was unable to stop Leverkusen opening the scoring just three minutes later. Maza played a perfect ball across the penalty area to an unmarked Vazquez, who slotted it into the bottom left corner to put the hosts ahead (37’).
There were agonising moments for both sets of fans as the first half drew to a close, with Njinmah rising high enough to meet an excellent ball in from Schmid, although his headed effort only managed to strike the far post (41’). Maza hit the woodwork himself in added time, driving a long-range attempt onto the post (45+2’).
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SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTSWerder dominate the ball, Leverkusen sit deep
After the break, the Werkself clearly allowed Steffen’s side to see more of the ball, looking instead to pose a threat through quick counter-attacks. Werder patiently worked the ball towards the edge of the penalty area on a number of occasions, where B04 defended compactly. Schmid eventually found space for a shot following a deflection, but the effort was blocked and danger averted (49’). Down the other end, fortune saw the ball fall to Alejandro Grimaldo, whose strike forced Backhaus into a reflex save (50’).
Ultimately, Werder couldn’t make it work on the day in their attempts to create threatening opportunities for themselves. The Green-Whites did manage to efficiently cut out the majority of Leverkusen’s counter attacks, making for a day where meaningful chances were few and far between. Grimaldo could have doubled the Werkself’s lead in the 75th minute, but Backhaus was able to make the save to keep the game at 1-0.
SVW gave it their all, trying everything they could to turn the game around. In the end, they just lacked the cutting edge to avoid defeat against a rather passive Leverkusen side. It’s not long until the Green-Whites are back out on the pitch, with midweek football on the schedule. Werder will welcome TSG Hoffenheim to the Weserstadion on Tuesday, 27th January, with a floodlit kick-off set for 20:30 CET.
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Match statistics
Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Blaswich - Quansah, Andrich, Badé - Maza (72’ Arthur), Aleix Garcia (73’ Palacios) - Vazquez (57’ Fernandez), Hofmann, Grimaldo, Poku (57’ Tillman) - Schick
SV Werder Bremen: Backhaus - Pieper (15’ Malatini), Friedl, Coulibaly - Sugawara (79’ Topp), Lynen, Stage, Schmidt (46’ Deman) - Grüll (60’ Milošević), Schmid - Njinmah
Goals: 1-0 Vazquez (38’)
Yellow cards: Hofmann, Badé / Friedl (5th yellow card), Malatini, Deman
Referee: Tobias Reichel
Attendance: 30,210 (sold out)
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