Highlights
F. Badstübner
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90'
+ 9
Full time! Leipzig 2-1 Bremen
What a finish! Leipzig come from behind, dragged back into it by the superlative Nkunku, to beat Bremen. They climb back up to third, opening up a four-point advantage over Freiburg in fifth with two games to go. As for Bremen - who took the lead and were resilient for so long at the Red Bull Arena - they're not mathematically safe yet...
Full-time
90'
+ 7
Leipzig lead!!!!
Nkunku works his magic, dispossessing Stark on the left flank and ghosting past another two Bremen plays on his way to the by-line. The cut-back fines Szoboszlai, who drills home from close range. After another VAR review, this one stands!
90'
+ 5
Knocking at the door
Bremen survive as Werner pings one through a ruck of bodies. Moments later, Simakan flashes a shot narrowly over. What a thrilling finale in Leipzig!
90'
+ 2
Disallowed goal!
Dincki runs in behind Gvardiol with only Blaswich to beat. He does just that with a tidy finish, but had strayed a few yards offside when the initial ball was played.
90'
SEVEN added minutes
Hold onto your hats, folks...
89'
Open finale
The break's on for Bremen, but Gvardiol slides in to steer a pass back to Blaswich. There's another goal in this...
87'
Leipzig equalise!
The Red Bull Arena erupts as Orban towers above his marker to power Nkunku's cross from the left beyond Pavlenka's despairing dive. Nkunku didn't rush and he measured that pass to perfection.
86'
Leipzig yet to spark
xGoals
0
0.75
1.01
0
Goals
86'
Substitution
84'
Wide from Poulsen!
Bremen breathe a sigh of relief as Poulsen sends a difficult head wide of the far post. It's all Leipzig...
82'
Changes
Fresh legs for Bremen as they try to defend their lead. Leipzig, meanwhile, have introduced Schlager in midfield. Laimer has cramp. Poulsen's also come on, offering a more physical presence in the final third...
81'
Substitution
78'
Substitution
77'
Superb save!
Nkunku puts two defenders on their backs in the Bremen area, before shifting inside one last time and rifling towards the bottom corner. The homes fans expect the net to bulge, but Pavlenka has other ideas. Brilliant reactions to keep that out with a firm right hand!
76'
Substitution
76'
Substitution
76'
Substitution
74'
Wayward finish
Nkunku's blushes are spared by an offside flag as he balloons over from inside the six-yard area. Still, that's a warning shot for Werder...
71'
Triple change
Rose had this one ready before Nkunku's disallowed goal. Can Kampl - who scored the winner against Freiburg last week - along with Gvardiol and Halstenberg help turn the tide for the hosts?
71'
Substitution
71'
Substitution
71'
Substitution
70'
Bremen lead!!!
It's advantage Werder at the Red Bull Arena! Ducksch heads a quick throw-in into the area for Stage. He feeds it across goal for Leipzig-born Bittencourt, who arrives unmarked to slam a tidy first-time finish past Blaswich.
66'
Disallowed goal!
Nkunku caps a blistering counter by sliding in to convert Werner's square pass, but it won't count. After a VAR review, we go back to 0-0 for a foul against a Bremen player in the build-up.
65'
SituationGoal
ReviewPrevious foul?
DecisionNo goal
64'
Blaswich to the rescue!
The best chance of the game so far goes the way of Werder. Weiser's the architect with a driving run in off the right. He helps it on to Ducksch, whose first-time strike from inside the box is met by the outstretched boot of Blaswich.
Nkunku being kept quiet
© Imago
61'
Leipzig narrow favourites to get the win
0'
66.1 %
Now
45.5 %
59'
Off target
Bremen pick up a couple of quick-fire bookings, the second for Friedl's challenge on a full-flight Nkunku. Leipzig's talisman stands over the ensuing free-kick, lofting his attempt over the Bremen wall and Pavlenka's goal frame.
54'
Close!
Bremen's best chance by a mile as Schmid arrows wide from the edge of the area. He's yet to score in the Bundesliga - but that was not far away at all.
51'
Strong save!
Pavlenka gets down well to beat Laimer's long-range strike to safety. Bremen allowed the Leipzig midfielder far too much time and space in the build-up - Ole Werner's not impressed.
50'
Stop-start football
Niggling fouls are the common thread since the restart. This will suit Bremen more than it does Leipzig.
46'
Here we go again!
No changes at the break. Will we see a breakthrough in the second half? All eight fixtures so far on Matchday 32 have seen at least two goals...
Kick-off!
45'
+ 2
Live table
As things stand, 12th-in-the-table Bremen cannot be relegated automatically and are all but safe from the play-off spot, given their superior goal difference. Leipzig are in fourth place, one point behind Union and two ahead of Freiburg. There are still two rounds of fixtures to be played after today, remember.
Half-time
44'
Time added on
Just the one additional minute at the Red Bull Arena. Bremen have held their own, but you can't help but feel Leipzig have a few more gears to go through...
41'
Off the post!
Szoboszlai deceives everyone with an in-swinging corner that strikes the base of Pavlenka's near post. Not sure the Bremen stopper would have got to it, had the ball been the other side of the upright...
36'
Yellow peril
Henrichs didn't really need to make that challenge on Weiser, who had already lost the ball. Given the threat posed by the Bremen right-back, Rose might be thinking about a change in the left-back area before long...
34'
Still no clear-cut chances
xGoals
0
0.3
0.26
0
Goals
33'
Getting closer!
Stark makes a vital intervention to prevent Forsberg's cross finding the toe of the on-rushing Nkunku. Leipzig continue to ask all the questions...
30'
Wide!
Suddenly it's all Leipzig. They go from right to left after Bremen concede possession in midfield, but Simakan is unable to head Werner's back-post cross on target and was offside anyway.
29'
Chance!
Leipzig cranking through the gears now as Forsberg plays a neat one-two with Henrichs in the box. The Swede then stabs an inviting pass towards the back post, where a Bremen defender is able to clear ahead of Nkunku.
26'
Slick move
Better from Leipzig, who have Bremen on the back foot for the first time with Nkunku. He feeds Forsberg in the box to his right, but the shot is charged down by Stark.
25'
Over!
Leipzig move it well in the Bremen half. Henrichs spies an opening, but shanks over from a good 25 yards. The home side have yet to really get going - Bremen haven't allowed them to.
23'
Caution
Stark's booked for a late challenge on Nkunku, who's otherwise been a tad quiet so far.
19'
Almost a magical goal!
Laimer sprays a measured ball over the top of the Bremen defence for Werner. He brings it down with a majestic first touch, before lofting over on the volley.
16'
Nothing between the teams
Possession (%)
5545
16'
13'
Weiser threat
The Bremen right-back gets the better of Henrichs once more. His cross is measured to perfection, but Simakan gets a touch to divert Schmid's attempted header over the crossbar.
10'
Top scorer's race
Despite missing nine Bundesliga matches through injury, Nkunku's still only three goals behind the 16-goal Füllkrug in this season's scoring charts. Messrs Grifo (Freiburg) and Kolo Muani (Frankfurt) are also in contention, with 14 apiece.
7'
Haidara!
Leipzig build patiently, before a quick one-two between Forsberg and Haidara opens up a shooting opportunity. Haidara strikes it cleanly from 20 yards, but it's straight at Pavlenka.
4'
Bremen promise
Bremen go on the attack with Weiser. He fires in a low cross towards the near post, forcing Klostermann into evasive action. Werder win a free-kick from the ensuing corner, but Ducksch's in-swinging cross is too close to Blaswich.
Kick-off!
Table talk
Union climbed above Leipzig after beating Freiburg yesterday. However, Leipzig can reclaim third with a win today, and put five points between themselves and fifth-placed Freiburg. Bremen, who are five points clear of the relegation zone with a superior goal difference, are almost home and hosed. Avoid defeat here today and they're safe.
0:25
Watch: Inside the home dressing room
0:08
Watch: Filling up nicely
More on those teams
Gvardiol's only fit enough for the Leipzig bench, so Klostermann partners Orban at centre-back. Simakan is on the right, with Henrichs preferred to Raum and Halstenberg on the opposite flank. With Olmo nursing a muscular problem, Forsberg comes in. As for Bremen, there's no Füllkrug for a fifth straight game, though he was an unused substitute in the win over Hertha on Matchday 29. Schmid partners Ducksch in the absence of this season's top Bundesliga scorer, while defender Veljkovic and midfielder Gruev replace Pieper and Groß respectively.
Leipzig starting line-up
Blaswich - Simakan, Klostermann, Orban (c), Henrichs - Szoboszlai, Laimer, Haidara, Olmo - Nkunku, Werner
Leipzig subs
Nyland, Halstenberg, Gvardiol, Diallo, Raum, Schlager, Kampl, Poulsen, Silva
Bremen starting line-up
Pavlenka - Veljkovic, Stark, Friedl (c) - Weiser, Bittencourt, Gruev, Stage, Jung - Ducksch, Schmid
Bremen subs
Zetterer, Buchanan, Groß, Chiarodia, Schmidt, Mbom, Philipp, Dinkci
Gvardiol could return
© IMAGO/Christian Schroedter/IMAGO/Christian Schroedter
Füllkrug faces fitness battle
© IMAGO/CB/IMAGO/Claus Bergmann
Four out of five
Leipzig have four wins in their past five Bundesliga matches as they hit a decent run of form at just the right time. They have not conceded a goal in their past two fixtures, either.
2:03
Kampl seals big points
A win will do it
Bremen should play Bundesliga football again next season, barring a freak run of results in the final three matchdays. A win in Leipzig would mathematically secure their survival, though!
2:03
Bremen battle but are beaten
Leipzig look to push for top four
With their rivals for the final two top four spots, Union Berlin and Freiburg, facing one another on Saturday, a win would definitely allow Leipzig to advance their aims of securing Champions League football next season.