SV Werder have lost a tricky away tie in Leipzig 3-1. Naby Keita put the hosts into the lead shortly before the break, before the same player doubled RB’s advantage in the 72nd minute. The Green-Whites reacted brilliantly to this second setback and halved the deficit a minute later through Serge Gnabry. This was too little too late however, as ex-Werder man Davie Selke made it 3-1 to Leipzig in the dying moments.
Line-up: Werder head coach Alexander Nouri didn’t make any changes to his team which started last week’s game against Bayer Leverkusen. Lamine Sané, who was carrying a knock during the week, was declared fit in time for the game, so Nouri was able the stick with his 4-2-3-1 formation like the previous week.
5th minute: The first big chance of the game goes to Leipzig. Yussuf Poulsen controls the ball with his chest and gets between Lamine Sané and Niklas Moisander, however, Felix Wiedwald pulls off a great one-on-one save to deny the forward. Top stuff from the Werder keeper!
15th minute: SVW are completely in the game, even though they are having to wait for their first chance. Neither side is dominating, nor being able to create clear-cut chances - the game is being played mostly in the middle of the park.
22nd minute: Werder have their first meaningful attack. Theo Gebre Selassie and Zlatko Junuzovic exchange passes and release Serge Gnabry. The Germany U21’s player runs strongly at the Leipzig defence and is challenged by Willi Orban, the referee doesn’t blow his whistle for a foul however and the chance is gone.
30th minute: The game is heating up. Gnabry puts Manneh through on goal, RB ‘keeper Peter Gulacsi slides in to stop the Werder striker and the ball rolls out of play harmlessly for a goal kick. Meanwhile, Kaiser is the third Leipzig player to go into the referee’s book after Keita and Forsberg. Keita’s tough challenge on Gebre Selassie raises the temperature and shortly after, the Czech defender is also carded for a foul on Poulson.
42nd minute:Goal for Leipzig. Naby Keita runs through the Green-White defence, exchanging passes with Poulson and getting a rebound off a Werder leg. The Guinean keeps his cool and rounds Wiedwald to slot in.
45th minute: Half time in Leipzig. The hosts have had the better of the final moments of the first period but their goal came from almost nothing. Now Werder have to show a reaction in the second half to have any chance of getting back into the game.
50th minute:Werder nearly get the equaliser! Junuzovic perfectly times his pass to Gebre Selassie on the right wing. The full-back puts a low cross towards the far post but Compper manages to get to the ball just before Manneh. A positive start to the second half!
60th minute: After this chance though, RB Leipzig take control of the match. The Green-Whites have to rely on attacking on the counter but often lack precision in their passing. Fin Bartels comes on for Izet Hajrovic, hoping to make an impact.
64th minute: Felix Wiedwald keeps his team in the match! Emil Forsberg has a go from distance but Wiedwald manages to parry the ball away from goal. Poulsen has a go on the rebound but doesn’t get enough power behind it and Wiedwald saves again.
70th minute: 20 minutes left for Werder to get back in the game. Werder manager Alexander Nouri makes an attacking change and brings forward Aaron Johannsson on for Clemens Fritz.
72th minute:Keita scores Leipzig’s second. Werder can’t keep hold of the ball after winning it and Keita plays a one-two with Davie Selke. The Ex-Werder player crosses the ball in from the byline and Keita heads the ball home.
76th minute: Goal for Werder! Gnabry gets a foot to Fin Bartel’s cross to poke the ball over the line. The Green-Whites are back in it!
85th minute: Werder are finding it difficult to keep the ball in the Leipzig half. The hosts are really pressing to get the third goal, while SVW are hoping for an equaliser.
90+3 minutes:Leipzig score a third. Bremen get a final free-kick but Leipzig gather the ball and attack on the counter. Selke gets the ball in the Werder final third and scores into an open goal with the last kick of the game, after all the Werder players had gone up for a final last-gasp free kick.
Conclusion:It was an equal first half between the two sides, but a moment of carelessness from the team led to Leipzig taking the lead. It looked like the game was decided after their second goal, but Werder reacted quickly to get themselves back in the game. However, the Green-Whites couldn’t quite manage to break through the Leipzig defence to get the equaliser.
