Werder Bremen vs RB Leipzig – News and Probable Lineups

In pursuit of securing their place in the Champions League, RB Leipzig is set to visit Bundesliga opponents Werder Bremen at Weserstadion this Saturday.

Die Roten Bullen are eager to capitalize on their crucial victory in the previous match, while Die Werderaner aim to further their comeback this weekend.

Match overview

Daniel Thioune’s tenure at Werder initiated with three consecutive losses in February – a 1-0 defeat to Freiburg, a 3-0 loss against Bayern Munich, and a 2-1 setback against St Pauli – but the manager has invigorated the team, resulting in a surprisingly robust performance going into this match.

The 51-year-old took over Die Werderaner following the dismissal of Horst Steffen after a 1-1 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach on January 31, leaving the Green-Whites just a point above the relegation zone.

Nevertheless, a 2-0 victory over Heidenheim at the end of February marked a pivotal moment for Thioune’s squad, who have managed to secure three wins in their last four matches leading up to this fixture, including a recent 1-0 victory against Wolfsburg.

The triumph against Die Wolfe has placed Werder in 14th position in the Bundesliga, as their haul of 28 points positions them four points clear of St Pauli in 16th, who are in the relegation playoff position.

Supporters of the Green-Whites will likely be pleased to see their team achieve a second clean sheet in four matches, although the Weserstadion crowd may remain cautious this Saturday, as the hosts have lost two of their last three home games and have only secured one win in their last eight at home.

On the other hand, Ole Werner’s Leipzig are currently in a strong position for Champions League qualification, yet their spot in the top four is not assured, making it critical for the club to assert dominance after narrowly missing out on European competition in 2024-25.

From late January to early March, Die Roten Bullen faced a challenging bout of six matches, managing just one victory (2-1 against FC Koln on March 8), but they have since bounced back, collecting nine points from a possible 12 in the previous month.

Most recently, Werner’s team delivered an impressive 5-0 victory over top-four contenders Hoffenheim, a commanding scoreline that is expected to give them a psychological advantage against Die Kraichgauer as the season approaches its climax.

This win propelled Leipzig to fourth place in the standings, although they are level on 50 points with fifth-placed Hoffenheim, and it remains uncertain if they can maintain that position through the final seven fixtures of the season.

To bolster their Champions League position, the visitors must overcome their underwhelming away record, which has seen them lose two of their last three away matches and manage just three wins on the road since a 4-1 DfB-Pokal victory over Cottbus on October 28.

Team News

Werder faces an uphill battle in defense due to the absence of centre-backs Julian Malatini and Maximilian Wober, each dealing with knee and thigh injuries, respectively. Compounding the situation, fellow centre-halves Amos Pieper and Niklas Stark are doubts owing to their own injuries, with right wing-back Mitchell Weiser also sidelined due to a knee issue.

In light of these injuries, Karim Coulibaly and Marco Friedl are anticipated to fill the central defensive roles, flanked by full-backs Yukinari Sugawara and Olivier Deman. Arsenal’s goalkeeper Karl Hein, who was on loan, has returned to London after a hand surgery, but first-choice Mio Backhaus is expected to be fit to start.

At the opposite end of the pitch, strikers Keke Topp and Victor Okoh Boniface are likely to miss the remainder of the season due to knee injuries, while fellow centre-forward Jovan Milosevic is a doubt due to a back problem.

Consequently, Justin Njinmah is likely to lead the attack, supported by Marco Grull, Jens Stage, and Romano Schmid.

For Leipzig, they are set to welcome Peter Gulacsi back into the starting XI after he missed five matches recovering from a knee issue, although they will have to manage without third-choice goalkeeper Leopold Zingerle due to a wrist injury.

Just in front of Gulacsi, centre-backs Willi Orban and Castello Lukeba will anchor a four-man defense alongside Ridle Baku and David Raum, as right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic is dealing with a back injury and left-back Max Finkgrafe is a doubt after being withdrawn from international duty.

In addition, versatile forward Brajan Gruda (groin), 18-year-old winger Ayodele Thomas (muscle), and fellow teenager Viggo Gebel (knee) are all out, which means Leipzig’s attacking line could comprise Yan Diomande, Romulo, and Antonio Nusa on Saturday.

Werder Bremen probable starting XI:

bakery; Sugawara, Friedl, Coulibaly, Deman; Lynen, Puertas; Grull, Stage, Schmid; Njinmah

RB Leipzig probable starting XI:

Gulacsi; Baku, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; Schlager, Seiwald, Baumgartner; Diamond, Romulo, Nusa

Werder has shown notable improvement under Thioune in recent times, but their disappointing home form raises concerns about their ability to compete against a Champions League-contending side this Saturday.

Leipzig’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Hoffenheim prior to the international break will undoubtedly boost their morale as they vie for a place in the top four, and while their recent away form has been lackluster, they may prove to be a challenging opponent for Werder this weekend.