Highlights
D. Aytekin
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90'
+ 5
Full time: Bremen 2-3 Leverkusen
Leverkusen come from behind to win in Bremen. They climb to within two points of the top seven, while Werder stay in the relative comforts of mid table.
Full-time
90'
+ 2
Denied!
Leverkusen have men over as Bakker sends a ball into the Bremen box. Azmoun and Palacios get in each other's way, though, allowing Werder to scramble clear.
90'
+ 1
Time added on
Into the first of four added minutes. The Bremen fans are in full voice - can they inspire a late equaliser?
88'
Double change
Sinkgraven's on to shore up the Leverkusen defence, while Azmoun will look to hold the play up in the final third.
88'
Substitution
88'
Substitution
86'
Füllkrug on the spot!
No complaints from Hincapie as he's penalised for a handball in the box. Füllkrug steps up to take the penalty, waits for Hradecky to make his move and tucks the ball into the opposite corner. The comeback is on!
84'
Substitution
83'
Hlozek!
Leverkusen have daylight. Adli races up the left and crosses for Hlozek, who steers a fine flicked header beyond Pavlenka's despairing dive.
82'
Table talk
Leverkusen will stay in ninth place whatever happens, but the gap to seventh - which could yet be enough for European qualification - will be cut to two points with a win.
77'
Risky move
Gruev, a holding midfielder, is replaced by young striker Eren Dinkci. Can Werder uphold their reputation as kings of the late show...?
77'
Substitution
Frimpong's seventh Bundesliga goal of the season is all that separates the sides with 15 minutes of normal time remaining...
© Getty Images
74'
Diaby makes way
He's put in a good shift in the Leverkusen attack. Amiri doesn't have his pace, but is another tricky customer.
74'
Substitution
72'
Leverkusen outdoing their xG
xGoals
1
1.1
0.82
1
Goals
69'
Attacking change
A forward for a midfielder - Werner needs a goal...
69'
Substitution
65'
Hradecky to the rescue!
Füllkrug gets the better of Kossounou in the box and fires goalwards from a tight angle, forcing a brilliant diving save from Hradecky. That could be a huge moment in the game!
62'
Bayer change
Frimpong makes way, no doubt with a view to Thursday's Europa League second leg at Ferencvaros. The more defensively minded Tapsoba is on.
62'
Substitution
60'
Worth a go!
Andrich takes on a shot from range, but it's straight down the throat of Pavlenka. This is really starting to open up...
58'
Jung!
The Bremen defender has a crack, albeit volleying too close to Hradecky to seriously trouble the Leverkusen No.1. Encouraging response, though...
56'
Leverkusen lead!
So hard on Bremen. Weiser has a goal-bound shot blocked on the edge of the area, with the fall falling kindly for Diaby, who instigates a quick breakaway. Palacios feeds Frimpong, who cuts inside of Jung and nestles a shot past Pavlenka with the aid of a massive deflection.
51'
Frimpong asks the question...
... but there are no takers after Pavlenka fails to deal with the Dutchman's probing cross.
47'
Over!
Schmidt splits the Leverkusen defence with a diagonal ball into the box. Stage winds up, but drives over!
46'
As you were
No changes just yet, but you'd expect Alonso to show his hand before long. Bayer are between Europa League last-16 legs, remember.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 2
Half time: Bremen 1-1 Leverkusen!
Well, this is finely poised. A goal apiece and further chances at both ends. Don't go anywhere...
Half-time
41'
Wide!
Leverkusen threaten with Diaby. He rolls the ball across the edge of the area for Andrich, who drags a first-time effort wide. That really opened up for the Bayer midfielder - he had to test Pavlenka in that position!
40'
Danger!
Weiser pings a cross into the box from the right. Stage makes a move, but his shot is blocked by Kossounou. The Bremen right-back - who spent three years at Leverkusen - has seven assists so far this season...
39'
Levekusen still the favourites - just
0'
40.4 %
Now
37.5 %
34'
Leverkusen Bakker in it!
What a response! Frimpong crosses into the box for Diaby, who completely misses the ball. Bakker doesn't, though, and smashes a volley into the top corner. That all started deep in the Bayer half with Palacios' brilliant through-ball to Adli. Game on!
31'
Hlozek!
The Czech forward wriggles free inside the area and tries to guide the ball into the far bottom corner, but it goes wide. So close!
30'
This time it counts!
Leverkusen fail to deal with another ball up towards the edge of the area. Füllkrug wins the bouncing ball after good work by Schmidt, the Bremen striker slipping a pass to his right for Ducksch. He wraps his right foot around the ball and smashes one high past the on-rushing Hradecky.
28'
Chance!
Bremen play over the top for Ducksch. He's in-between Frimpong and Tah on the edge of the area, but sends a hurried effort wide. The Bremen striker had way more time and space than he realised.
Still no goals...
© Getty Images
24'
Stark!
The German word for 'strong' - and how apt it is as the Bremen defender puts in a brilliant challenge to stop Diaby racing through on goal.
19'
Leverkusen carrying the bigger threat
xGoals
0
0.06
0.29
0
Goals
18'
Goal attempts
1off target
0on target
2off target
0on target
15'
Adli again!
Leverkusen break with Diaby. He tears up the right and cross low towards the six-yard box. Adli swings a boot, but Pieper does just enough to put him off and the shot goes wide.
11'
Half chance!
Adli's played into the channel, but it's on his weaker right side and the Bayer forward blazes over from a tight angle inside the box.
8'
Füllkrug threat
Füllkrug is making life uncomfortable for Hincapie. He outmuscles the Leverkusen defende in the box and lays the ball off for a teammate, before play is called back for a handball against the Germany striker.
7'
Even opening
Possession (%)
5545
3'
High press
Werder are pressing Leverkusen high as Hradecky is forced to clear under pressure from two Bremen players. How fresh will this Bayer team be after their Europa League exploits?
1'
We're off!
Under way in Bremen, the hosts in green and white. Leverkusen are all in red.
Kick-off!
Close to kick-off!
The players are getting ready to enter the pitch!
Watch: Highlights of the 1-1 draw between these two sides in September
Head-to-head
Leverkusen have dominated this match-up in recent years, losing just one of their last 11 matches against the 'Werderaner'. The last three meetings, however, have all ended in draws, with the last winner coming when the 'Werkself" prevailed 4-1 in 2020.
Leverkusen team news
© Imago
Bremen team news
© Imago
Bremen starting XI
Pavlenka - Pieper, Stark, Veljkovic - Weiser, Schmidt, Gruev, Stage, Jung - Füllkrug (c), Ducksch
Bremen subs
Zetterer, Buchanan, Dietrich, Chiarodia, Salifou, Berger, Philipp, Dinkci
Leverkusen starting XI
Hradecky (c) - Kossounou, Tah, Hincapie - Frimpong, Andrich, Palacios, Bakker - Diaby, Hlozek, Adli
Leverkusen subs
Pentz, Lomb, Tapsoba, Sinkgraven, Fosu-Mensah, Demirbay, Amiri, Mbamba, Azmoun
Early team news
Former Leverkusen man Mitchell Weiser is set to return to the starting XI against his old club after getting half an hour from the bench last week following an ankle injury, although captain Marco Friedl is out through illness. Die Werkself, meanwhile, have good news in the form of Jeremie Frimpong shrugging off a knock and their long-term injury-list has now been reduced to just Charles Aranguiz and Andrey Lunev.
Werner: "Two key points to success"
© Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Alonso: "We're on the right track"
© IMAGO/Laci Perenyi/IMAGO/Laci Perenyi
2:03
Watch: Leverkusen 4-1 Hertha
2:03
Watch: Augsburg 2-1 Bremen
European ambitions?
Promoted Bremen are in the relative comforts of mid-table after 23 matches. Leverkusen are a point better off, and begin the weekend only four points adrift of seventh place, which may very well offer them a route into Europe, given the likelihood of one of the current top six winning the DFB Cup.
0:30