Werder Bremen delivered a strong response to their disastrous loss at SC Freiburg by securing a 3:1 home victory against RB Leipzig on Saturday. Under manager Daniel Thioune, the team, driven by goals from Marco Grüll and others, displayed a completely different attitude compared to the previous week.
The 1:4 defeat in Freiburg had caused major unrest and a sense of impending doom. Bild Sport reports that the team held an extensive analysis meeting early in the week. They discussed the chaotic transfer situation and the full squad composition, but above all the necessity to push forward together now. Captain Marco Friedl stated: "Es gab extrem viel Unruhe rund um den Verein. Das hat mich nachdenklich gemacht, weil es wirklich so schlecht geschrieben wurde." This crisis meeting paid off.
What made the difference against Leipzig?
The match statistics prove the turnaround. Werder Bremen ran a total of more than the visitors from RB Leipzig. Before halftime, Bremen won an astonishing 70 percent of all duels. This physical and mental presence formed the foundation for the success. Key players like Jens Stage and Justin Njinmah were absent due to injury, but others stepped up.
Marco Grüll was the most effective offensive player with a goal and an assist. The return of Niclas Füllkrug, who played from the start after his injury layoff, also gave the team confidence. Füllkrug commented on the mood after the Freiburg loss: "Nach Freiburg hatten wir bedröppelte Mienen. Auch ich dachte: Das kann tough werden. Aber das hilft manchmal, wenn einem keiner etwas zutraut." The win acts as a vital lifeline in a difficult period.
What is the current situation?
The win against Leipzig is an important step, but the Bundesliga table shows the ongoing challenge. After one matchday, Werder Bremen sits in 16th place with zero points, one goal scored and four conceded. The goal difference is minus three. They trail league leaders Bayern Munich by three points. The injury list remains long with Felix Agu, Jens Stage, Justin Njinmah and Senne Lynen sidelined, complicating rotation.
Manager Daniel Thioune warned against overvaluing the success. The manager emphasized that this intensity must be produced weekly. Further difficult tasks await the team in the coming weeks. The next test is already on September 12th, when Werder travels to face 1. FC Köln, currently eighth in the table. You can check the full schedule on our fixtures page.
What are the next tasks?
The team must carry the positive momentum from the Leipzig match forward. The defensive issues that led to four goals in Freiburg were better controlled but not solved. The return of regulars from the injury list, whose status can be tracked on our injuries overview, will be important to strengthen the squad's depth.
The victory showed the team is capable of breaking out of a negative spiral. The mental strength built during the difficult week is valuable capital. The complete Bundesliga table with all details on the standings is available at standings. The away match in Cologne on September 12, 2026 is the next opportunity to collect points and climb away from the relegation zone.
