Bremen simply cannot win in Leipzig (0-1-7). Even at the eighth attempt, Werder wasn’t able to make it three points – despite a courageous performance. Above all, the Hanseatic League had no answer to Xavi, who led the Saxons to 4-2 with a brace.
Leipzig coach Marco Rose’s personnel concerns had eased during the winter break after important players like Raum and Xavi returned. But Schlager, who had injured his left leg in the secret test against Czech third division team Banik Most (10-0) and was now out, was out against Bremen.
Compared to the last game of last year, the 1:5 in Munich, RB coach Marco Rose turned away from the rigid 3-5-2 and opted for a fluid system that was between 4-4-2 with a flat double six and one 3-4-3 changed. In terms of personnel, Klostermann, Raum, Kampl and Xavi played for Geertruida, Henrichs (torn Achilles tendon), Schlager and Baumgartner. New signing Baku sat on the bench.
For Bremen, Ducksch’s use was questionable after an operation on his thyroid gland, but the okay was given, so the North Germans played unchanged compared to the 4-1 win against Union Berlin – Bremen coach Ole Werner sent the same starting eleven into the team for the third time in a row Run.
Fluid Leipzigers
The game had a good pace right from the start: Bremen impressed with very high pressing and a lot of risk, the guests attacked very early – and with a lot of people. So the people of Leipzig had little time to design. However, RB repeatedly freed themselves from the opposing pressure phases and also recorded the first noteworthy goal from space (9th), while on the other side Schmid increased the pulse (11th).
Xavi makes the difference
After a highly intense initial phase, the pace slowed down a bit, but the game remained entertaining and soon produced goals: After Openda’s artistic direct shot, which went wide (20′), the guests were caught cold by a throw-in. Openda headed Raum’s ball into the path of the crossing Xavi, who didn’t need to be asked twice and shot it flat into the bottom left corner from 16 meters to make it 1-0 (23′).
The joy of the goal only lasted two minutes, because Werder responded in the style of a top team: After a remarkable move via Ducksch, Weiser and Grüll, who, under pressure, put Weiser in the spotlight with a backheel, he quickly made it 1-1 (26 .).
Quick equalizer: Mitchell Weiser (2nd from left) makes it 1-1.
IMAGO/Beautiful Sports
But it didn’t stop there, because Xavi still had a great moment up his sleeve under the eyes of Jürgen Klopp, who is scheduled to make his first public appearance as Red Bull’s head of football on Tuesday. The Dutchman picked up the ball in midfield, then ran across half the field and finally scored from 15 meters to make it 2-1 (35th).
Sesko provides the bang after the break
That was the half-time score, also because Klostermann and Xavi were blocked from a double chance (43′). Werder began the second half with Veljkovic instead of Friedl, who had previously received his fifth yellow card, and had to swallow the next goal straight away: space forced Weiser to lose the ball. Sesko took over, immediately ran and welded the ball powerfully from around 25 meters into the right crease (47th).
That was actually the end of the air. Werder didn’t give up, continued to make an honest effort and acted courageously, but their strength dwindled. The guests barely got any flow into their own actions, while Leipzig, with newcomers Baku also celebrating their debut, managed cleverly and ultimately managed the victory in a routine manner.
Two more goals in the final phase
In the final phase the bell rang twice more – on both sides: Nusa still had aluminum pitch (81′), but then the ball passed through Baku and André Silva to Baumgartner, who had been given a little too much space and promptly punished it (90′). .). Werder again had the last word and that was in the person of substitute Burke, who punished a Seiwald mistake in his own penalty area with a goal to make the final score 4-2 (90th + 3) – but that was nothing more than a cosmetic result.
The Bundesliga is going full throttle straight into the new year and is coming up with an English week: Leipzig will therefore continue in Stuttgart on Wednesday evening (8.30 p.m.). Bremen, whose winning streak of four games in a row has been broken, is hosting Heidenheim at the same time.
