Werder Bremen will welcome RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Saturday, with European football up for grabs.
With just two rounds remaining in the 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign, the battle for European football intensifies as Werder Bremen host RB Leipzig at the Weserstadion on Saturday. Both sides still harbour hopes of securing a continental berth. But with only three points separating them in the table, this fixture could prove decisive in shaping the final standings.
For Werder Bremen, the equation is clear, anything less than a win could effectively extinguish their hopes of European football next season. The Green-Whites currently sit in eighth place with 47 points, three adrift of sixth-placed Leipzig, who occupy the final UEFA Europa Conference League qualification spot.
Last weekend, Bremen missed a golden opportunity to close the gap, squandering a 2-0 lead against Union Berlin to draw 2-2. Despite taking control of the game early with two quick goals, Ole Werner’s side managed just three shots inside the box after their second goal, failing to generate any big chances thereafter.
However, Bremen’s form in recent weeks has been largely positive. They are unbeaten in their last six league games, collecting four wins and two draws while conceding just once in five of those matches. The Green-Whites have also been solid at home, winning two and drawing one of their last three at Weserstadion. However, they previously endured a rough patch at home, suffering three consecutive defeats while conceding nine goals during that run.
Bremen’s defence will need to tighten up against a Leipzig side that has proven dangerous in front of goal. In the reverse fixture in January, Leipzig ran out 4-2 winners, capitalising on Bremen’s defensive lapses to secure a comprehensive victory.
For RB Leipzig, Saturday’s clash represents a must-win if they are to maintain their slim hopes of securing a Champions League spot. Currently in sixth place, they are just two points behind fourth-placed Freiburg but come into this fixture winless in their last three matches.
Last weekend’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Bayern Munich showcased both the best and worst of Leipzig. Having raced to a 2-0 lead, they conceded three unanswered goals before a 95th-minute equaliser from Yussuf Poulsen, assisted by a deft pass from Xavi Simons, salvaged a point in the dying moments.
Despite their scoring prowess, Leipzig have netted three or more goals in three of their last five games, their defensive fragility remains a concern. They have shipped 11 goals in that period, often undoing their own attacking efforts with defensive lapses.
Manager Zsolt Low will also be concerned by Leipzig’s dismal away record. Die Roten Bullen have won just two of their last 16 Bundesliga away matches, losing ten of those encounters and failing to score in six of their last eight on the road. With Freiburg potentially extending the gap to five points if they beat Holstein Kiel, Leipzig’s European hopes could hang by a thread if they fail to secure all three points at Weserstadion. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Werder Bremen
Werder Bremen approach Saturday’s clash against RB Leipzig with a relatively fit squad, though they will be without Milos Veljkovic, who remains sidelined with a lingering injury. Despite the setback at the heart of the defence, Marco Friedl is expected to return to the starting lineup, providing a much-needed boost to the backline.
Head coach Ole Werner is likely to stick with the trusted partnership of Oliver Burke and Marvin Ducksch in attack, with the duo having started together in five of the last six matches. Meanwhile, the midfield trio of Jens Stage, Senne Lynen, and Romano Schmid has been instrumental in maintaining Bremen’s unbeaten run in recent weeks and is expected to continue in the starting XI.
Werner is expected to deploy a 3-5-2 formation, which offers both defensive solidity and attacking width through the wing-backs. In goal, Michael Zetterer will continue as the first-choice goalkeeper. The three-man defensive line is set to feature Niklas Stark on the right, Marco Friedl centrally, and Amos Pieper on the left.
The midfield will consist of Mitchell Weiser operating as the right wing-back and Felix Agu as the left wing-back, providing width and crossing opportunities. In the centre, Jens Stage, Senne Lynen, and Romano Schmid will form a dynamic trio, combining ball-winning capabilities with forward thrust.
Up front, the strike partnership will be led by Oliver Burke and Marvin Ducksch, with Ducksch serving as the focal point in attack and Burke offering pace and physicality to stretch Leipzig’s defence.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Zetterer; Stark, Friedl, Pieper; Weiser, Stage, Lynen, Schmid, Agu; Burke, Ducksch
RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig travel to the Weserstadion with significant defensive and midfield absences. David Raum is ruled out through suspension, while defensive stalwarts Benjamin Henrichs and Willi Orban are sidelined with injuries. This leaves head coach Zsolt Low with limited options at the back, potentially forcing Leipzig to reshuffle their defensive line.
In midfield, Leipzig are further weakened with the unavailability of Amadou Haidara and Xaver Schlager, both nursing injuries. Additionally, experienced midfielder Kevin Kampl is also suspended, leaving Low with a depleted central midfield.
Despite these setbacks, Leipzig still possess considerable firepower in attack, with wide attackers Xavi Simons and Ridle Baku expected to provide support to the striking duo of Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda.
Leipzig are expected to line up in a 4-4-2 formation, aiming for width and quick transitions to counter Bremen’s three-man defence. In goal, Peter Gulacsi will continue as the first-choice shot-stopper. The back four is likely to include Kosta Nedeljkovic at right-back, with Lukas Klostermann and El Chadaille Bitshiabu forming the central defensive partnership, and Castello Lukeba slotting in at left-back.
The midfield quartet will consist of Ridle Baku on the right wing and Xavi Simons on the left, both providing width and pace. In the centre, Nicolas Seiwald and Arthur Vermeeren will form a makeshift double pivot, tasked with both protecting the backline and distributing possession forward.
Leading the line will be the strike pairing of Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda, with Sesko offering physicality and aerial presence and Openda providing pace and finishing ability.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Gulacsi; Nedeljkovic, Klostermann, Bitshiabu, Lukeba; Baku, Seiwald, Vermeeren, Simons; Sesko, Openda
Key Stats
- RB Leipzig are unbeaten in their last 10 competitive matches against Werder Bremen, winning eight and drawing two. Among teams they have faced more than four times in the top flight, Leipzig’s 2.2 goals-per-game average against Bremen is their joint-highest, matched only by their record against Stuttgart.
- With 47 points from 32 matches, Werder Bremen are experiencing their best Bundesliga campaign since they last qualified for Europe in 2009/10 (57 points). They are currently three points behind sixth-placed Leipzig. In the three-point era, only Karlsruher SC (1996/97) and Hamburger SV (1995/96) have made up as large a gap to sixth place as Bremen over the last two matchdays.
- Werder Bremen are unbeaten in their last six Bundesliga matches (W4 D2), their longest such streak since a seven-game run from December 2023 to February 2024. Since Matchday 27, only Borussia Dortmund (16 points) have collected more points than Bremen’s 14, matched only by Bayern Munich.
- Bremen have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three home games, a feat they last achieved in the top flight back in 2009. In contrast, Leipzig have failed to score in five of their last six Bundesliga away games and have netted the joint-fewest away goals in the division in the second half of the season (6 goals, level with Heidenheim).
- With 50 points from 32 games, this is RB Leipzig’s second-worst Bundesliga season at this stage. Only in 2017/18 (47 points) were they worse off, a season in which they finished sixth and missed out on Champions League qualification for the only time in their top-flight history.
Player to Watch
Benjamin Sesko
In a crucial clash with European implications, Benjamin Sesko stands out as a potential game-changer for RB Leipzig. The Slovenian striker has been a focal point in Leipzig’s attack, especially in recent weeks, as they attempt to keep their European hopes alive amidst a flurry of injuries and suspensions.
Sesko’s physical presence, aerial ability, and intelligent movement make him a constant threat in the final third. Despite Leipzig’s struggles on the road, the 21-year-old has proven himself capable of producing moments of brilliance, using his imposing 1.95m frame to dominate defenders in aerial duels and provide a crucial outlet for Leipzig’s transitional play.
With six Bundesliga goals this season, Sesko’s numbers may not leap off the page, but his influence extends beyond goalscoring. He has developed a strong understanding with Lois Openda, creating space for his strike partner and occupying centre-backs to allow Leipzig’s wingers, such as Xavi Simons and Ridle Baku, to operate more freely.
Against a Werder Bremen defence that has kept three consecutive home clean sheets, Sesko’s ability to disrupt and unsettle defenders with his physicality and hold-up play will be essential. His presence in the box could also be decisive, especially given Bremen’s vulnerability to crosses and set-pieces, areas where Sesko thrives.
With Leipzig needing a victory to maintain their faint hopes of Champions League qualification, Benjamin Sesko is the player to watch, a towering target man capable of turning half-chances into game-changing moments.
Prediction
Werder Bremen 2–2 RB Leipzig
With both teams desperate for points to keep their European ambitions alive, expect a tense, hard-fought encounter. Werder Bremen’s strong home form and Leipzig’s dismal away record suggest that the hosts may have a slight edge, though Leipzig’s attacking firepower remains a potent threat.
