RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen: Preview, Prediction & Lineups | Bundesliga 2025/26
RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen — Match Preview
The Red Bull Arena hosts a deeply personal tactical battle this Saturday as RB Leipzig welcome Werder Bremen for a Bundesliga clash rich in narrative. The headline story is undeniable: Ole Werner, the man who brought Bremen back to the Bundesliga and stabilized them, now stands in the home dugout as Leipzig manager, facing the club he left just six months ago.
Werner’s Leipzig side sits 2nd in the table, hunting down leaders Bayern Munich with a new-look attack featuring Yan Diomande and Rômulo. Facing them is a resilient Werder Bremen side under Horst Steffen, currently 8th but decimated by a full-back injury crisis. Will Werner’s inside knowledge of his former squad be the difference, or can Bremen upset their old boss?
RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen
- Competition: Bundesliga (Matchday 11)
- Venue: Red Bull Arena, Leipzig
- Date: Saturday, 22 November 2025
- Kickoff Time: 15:30 CET / 14:30 GMT / 20:00 IST
- Referee: Martin Petersen
- VAR: Tobias Welz (Expected)
- TV Channel (India): Sony Sports TEN 5
- Live Stream: JioTV, Sony LIV, 1xBet
RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
RB Leipzig:
- Position: 2nd in Bundesliga (22 Points).
- Form: Excellent. They demolished Augsburg 6-0 and beat Stuttgart 3-1 recently, though a shock loss to Hoffenheim (1-3) proved they are not invincible.
- Current Challenge: Maintaining momentum without defensive depth. With Benjamin Henrichs and El Chadaille Bitshiabu out, Werner’s backline is thin.
Werder Bremen:
- Position: 8th in Bundesliga (15 Points).
- Form: Gritty. They are unbeaten in their last 4 games, including a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Wolfsburg and a solid 1-0 victory against Union Berlin.
- Current Challenge: A literal “Full-Back Crisis.” With Weiser, Agu, and Deman all injured, Horst Steffen has almost no natural wing-backs available.
RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen — What’s at Stake
For RB Leipzig:
- Title Chase: With Bayern Munich (28 points) threatening to pull away, Leipzig cannot afford to drop points at home. This is a “must-win” to keep the pressure on.
For Werder Bremen:
- European Dream: Sitting 8th, Bremen are just outside the European spots. A result here would prove they can compete with the elite despite their budget constraints.
RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen — Team Form
RB Leipzig (Last 5 Matches):
- L vs Hoffenheim (1-3)
- W vs Stuttgart (3-1)
- W vs Cottbus (4-1)
- W vs Augsburg (6-0)
- W vs Hamburger SV (2-1)
Werder Bremen (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Wolfsburg (2-1)
- D vs Mainz (1-1)
- W vs Union Berlin (1-0)
- D vs Heidenheim (2-2)
- W vs St. Pauli (1-0)
RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen — Team News
RB Leipzig:
- El Chadaille Bitshiabu: Out (Muscle Injury).
- Benjamin Henrichs: Out (Achilles Tendon – Massive loss at RB).
- Viggo Gebel: Out (Knee Injury).
- Max Finkgräfe: Out (Knee Injury).
- Kevin Kampl: Questionable (Personal Reasons).
- Xaver Schlager: Available (Expected to anchor midfield).
Werder Bremen:
- The Wing-Back Crisis: Mitchell Weiser (Knee), Felix Agu (Ankle), and Olivier Deman (Ankle) are ALL Out.
- Maximilian Wöber: Out (Hamstring Injury).
- Niklas Stark: Questionable (Hip Injury – Late fitness test).
- Amos Pieper: Available (Likely to fill in at RB/CB).
RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen — Head to Head
- 10 May 2025: Werder Bremen 0–0 RB Leipzig
- 12 Jan 2025: RB Leipzig 4–2 Werder Bremen
- 11 May 2024: RB Leipzig 1–1 Werder Bremen
- 19 Dec 2023: Werder Bremen 1–1 RB Leipzig
- 28 Jul 2023: RB Leipzig 0–0 Werder Bremen
RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen — Predicted Lineups
RB Leipzig (4-2-3-1):
Ole Werner sticks to his attacking principles. With Henrichs out, Ridle Baku is the undisputed starter at right-back.
- GK: Péter Gulácsi
- RB: Ridle Baku
- CB: Willi Orbán (C)
- CB: Castello Lukeba
- LB: David Raum
- CDM: Nicolas Seiwald
- CDM: Amadou Haidara
- RW: Antonio Nusa
- CAM: Christoph Baumgartner
- LW: Yan Diomande (The pacy new signing)
- ST: Rômulo
Werder Bremen (3-4-2-1):
Steffen has a headache on the flanks. He may be forced to play Sugawara (if fit) or convert a center-back like Malatini to a wide role.
- GK: Mio Backhaus
- CB: Miloš Veljković
- CB: Marco Friedl (C)
- CB: Anthony Jung
- RWB: Yukinari Sugawara
- CM: Jens Stage
- CM: Senne Lynen
- LWB: Derrick Köhn (Emergency signing/loan likely starting)
- CAM: Romano Schmid
- CAM: Justin Njinmah
- ST: Keke Topp (Leading the line in post-Ducksch era)
RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen — Impact Bench Options
RB Leipzig:
- Assan Ouédraogo: The teenage sensation offers immense creativity if Leipzig struggles to break down Bremen’s block.
- Yussuf Poulsen: The veteran provides a different, physical option if Rômulo is isolated.
Werder Bremen:
- Marco Grüll: The Austrian winger has an eye for goal and can be dangerous against tired legs in the final 20 minutes.
- Isak Hansen-Aarøen: A wildcard option who brings unpredictability to the midfield.
RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen — Tactical Outlook
RB Leipzig:
- Playing Style: High-Octane Pressing. Werner demands verticality. With Diomande and Nusa on the wings, they are arguably the fastest team in the league. They will look to overload Bremen’s makeshift wing-backs instantly.
- Weakness: Defensive Transition. They concede chances when they lose the ball high up. Hoffenheim exposed this by hitting long balls behind Raum.
Werder Bremen:
- Playing Style: Compact & Direct. Horst Steffen has made Bremen harder to beat. They will sit in a 5-4-1 block and rely on Justin Njinmah’s speed to counter-attack into the space David Raum leaves behind.
- Strength: Midfield Grit. The Stage-Lynen duo is tough to bypass centrally. They force teams wide, which usually works—but against Leipzig’s wingers, it’s risky.
RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| David Raum vs. Justin Njinmah | Attack vs. Counter: Raum lives in the opponent’s half. Njinmah lives for the space Raum leaves. If Raum doesn’t track back, Njinmah scores. | Tie |
| Christoph Baumgartner vs. Senne Lynen | Space Invader: Baumgartner is Leipzig’s top scorer (5 goals). Lynen must man-mark him out of the game. | Leipzig |
| Rômulo vs. Marco Friedl | New Blood vs. Captain: Rômulo is physical and quick. Friedl is experienced but lacks pace. If Rômulo turns him, it’s over. | Leipzig |
RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen — Spotlight Players
Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig):
The 18-year-old winger has been a revelation since joining. With 3 goals already, his explosive speed is terrifying. Against a Bremen side missing their first-choice right-back, he could be the Player of the Match.
Jens Stage (Werder Bremen):
With Ducksch gone, Stage has stepped up as a goalscoring midfielder (4 goals). He arrives late in the box perfectly. Bremen’s best chance of scoring likely comes from a Stage late run or set-piece header.
RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen — Fan Reactions
RB Leipzig Fans:
“Ole Werner knows every weakness in that Bremen squad. We should win this comfortably.”
“No Henrichs is a worry, but Baku is more than good enough to replace him.”
Werder Bremen Fans:
“Going to Leipzig without Weiser and Agu is suicide. We need a miracle.”
“Whatever happens, Steffen has restored our pride. A draw would be like a win.”
RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen — Where to Watch
- India: Sony Sports TEN 5, JioTV, Sony LIV
- Germany: Sky Sport Bundesliga
- USA: ESPN+
- UK: Sky Sports Football
RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen — Match-Defining Factors
- The “Ole Werner” Knowledge: Werner knows exactly which Bremen players crumble under pressure. Expect Leipzig to target specific defenders (likely whoever plays RWB) mercilessly.
- Bremen’s Wing-Back Crisis: Playing without Agu and Weiser destroys Bremen’s main attacking outlet. They will be forced to play narrow, which allows Leipzig to surround them.
- Set Pieces: Bremen are surprisingly good in the air (Veljković/Friedl). Leipzig have conceded from corners in 2 of their last 3 games. This is Bremen’s lifeline.
RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen — Prediction
Score Prediction: RB Leipzig 3–1 Werder Bremen
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: RB Leipzig to Win (Too much quality vs. a depleted Bremen defense).
- Total Goals: Over 2.5 Goals (Leipzig average 2.0 goals/game; Bremen’s defense is makeshift).
- Anytime Goalscorer: Christoph Baumgartner (In hot form with 5 goals).
Analysis: The narrative favors Ole Werner heavily. He faces a Bremen side stripped of its wide threats. While Bremen will fight, the pace of Diomande and Nusa against backup full-backs is a mismatch. Leipzig should secure a comfortable home win to stay in the title hunt.
RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen — Final Word
This is a cruel fixture for Werder Bremen. Facing their former manager is hard enough; doing it without their entire fleet of wing-backs is nearly impossible. RB Leipzig are flying, and with the Red Bull Arena behind them, they look poised to overwhelm their visitors with speed and precision. Expect a professional, dominant display from Werner’s men.
RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen — FAQs
When is the RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen match?
The match kicks off on Saturday, 22 November 2025, at 15:30 CET (20:00 IST).
Is Ole Werner the manager of RB Leipzig?
Yes, Ole Werner took over as RB Leipzig manager in June 2025 after leaving Bremen.
Who is missing for Werder Bremen?
Bremen are in an injury crisis, missing key full-backs Mitchell Weiser, Felix Agu, and Olivier Deman.
Where can I watch the match in India?
The match will be broadcast live on Sony Sports TEN 5 and streamed on Sony LIV and JioTV.
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