Highlights

Matchday 30

FINAL

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VfB Stuttgart

71'

UndavDeniz Undav

DuckschMarvin Ducksch

49'

DuckschMarvin Ducksch

28'

R. Schröder

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Full-time: Bremen 2-1 Stuttgart

Ole Werner and Bremen celebrate wildly after claiming three points with what was likely their best performance of 2024. Ducksch's double ended a seven game winless run and it may well have secured their Bundesliga survival, with Werder now eight points from Mainz who are 16th. All of the home side's best players turned up, with Zetterer crucial in goal, Friedl excellent in defence, and things clicking up front between Ducksch, Woltemade and Schmid. Stuttgart will be left scratching their heads as to why the game got away from them, and they may now be looking over their shoulders with a top four cushion potentially reducing to as little as four points with four games to go.

Full-time

90'

+ 10

Substitution

Julián Malatini

Romano Schmid

90'

+ 9

Last chance?!

Guirassy brilliantly takes a pass and turns, but his shot is blocked just wide when you'd normally expect him to score. VfB have a potentially final chance from a corner.

90'

+ 8

Substitution

Wooyeong Jeong

Angelo Stiller

90'

+ 6

All Stuttgart

Bremen can't get out as Guirassy just misses a Silas cross, but the home team can't escape their own defensive third.

Possession (%)

3763

90'

+ 1

Ducksch taken off

Two-goal hero Duchsch heads off, will he be the matchwinner? Or can Stuttgart provide an equaliser in nine minutes of stoppage time?

90'

No penalty

After a VAR check it's deemed the play was offside, so a potential foul on Guirassy was irrelevant. We head into stoppage time.

90'

Substitution

Olivier Deman

Marvin Ducksch

90'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes

Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.

Silas Katompa Mvumpa33.76km/h

Waldemar Anton33.21km/h

Romano Schmid33.20km/h

86'

SituationNo goal

ReviewOffside?

DecisionNo goal

86'

Penalty?

Undav heads down for Guirassy who appears to be taken down by Jung. It was initially flagged offside, but it is now being checked.

85'

Stuttgart aiming for a point

xGoals

The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).

Stuttgart are finally ahead in the xG count, and it's all about Chris Führich who certainly looks like the best chance of an equaliser.

xGoals

1.54

1.99

Goals

84'

A breather for Bremen

Bittencourt wins a much needed free-kick for the home side and Ole Werner uses the opportunity to give his players a quick breather as he makes a double substitution.

83'

Substitution

Dawid Kownacki

Nick Woltemade

83'

Substitution

Christian Groß

Leonardo Bittencourt

80'

Stuttgart dominate the ball but not the goal count

Bremen are playing a dangerous game now as Stuttgart are in full control of the ball, dominating the pass stats.

Passes

267

595

77'

Close!

Stuttgart counter from a corner and after breaking into the Bremen box Silas lays the ball off to Guirassy, the normally clinical striker sends his shot just wide, though.

75'

Stuttgart growing into the game

Silas wins a free kick in a dangerous area with a brilliant run, and Dahoud's set piece is sent just wide off the head of Ito.

73'

Yellow card

Felix Agu

71'

Stuttgart on the board!

It's absolute chaos as Fuhrich brilliantly makes his way into the box before passing into the six yard area. Bremen's defence is unable to clear and Undav arrives to prod in and give VfB a chance with 20 minutes to play.

71'

Deniz Undav

GOAL!

2:1

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

80 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

2.39 m

68'

A chance for Stiller!

Mittelstadt continues to look like Stuttgart's best chance of providing a goal and this time he finds Stiller whose header is sent over the bar. Zetterer picks him up and there's some shoving as things get heated.

68'

Yellow card

Michael Zetterer

66'

Dangermen

Out of the two most involved strikers, Ducksch has so far been far more deadly than Undav.

Shots

Marvin Ducksch Deniz Undav

65'

Another double change

After making two switches at the break, Hoeneß makes another pair with 25 minutes to play and it's the recognisable faces of Dahoud and Silas.

65'

Substitution

Mahmoud Dahoud

Atakan Karazor

65'

Substitution

Silas Katompa Mvumpa

Jamie Leweling

The man of the hour

Ducksch now has 11 league goals for the season, only one less than his Bundesliga-best 12 last season. What a time to do it as well.

53'

Win Probability

This Match Fact documents significant changes in the probability of victory for both teams during the course of the match. The value is based on actual match play and incorporates existing Match Facts such as Expected Goals, Skill and Set-Piece Dange

Kick-off!

19 %

Now

81.1 %

53'

Tantalising!

Führich's first involvement in the game sees him bend a free kick dangerously past the far post, any touch from a teammate and Stuttgart are back in the game.

53'

Yellow card

Angelo Stiller

51'

Yellow card

Leonardo Bittencourt

50'

Double for Ducksch!

You wouldn't think Bremen are struggling in the table as they fly out the blocks again in the second half, a lovely passing move sees Schmid find Ducksch in plenty of space to tap-in a second, it's nothing less than they deserve.

49'

Marvin Ducksch

GOAL!

2:0

Goal probability

38 %

Shot speed

Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.

72.73 km/h

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

10.45 m

48'

Woltemade close again!

Woltemade continues to shine and sends an effort just wide.

47'

Two changes for Stuttgart

Sebastian Hoeneß makes two changes after a disappointing end to the first half. Furich comes on for the booked Millot which Stenzel heads on for Stergiou.

46'

Bremen start how they finished

We're back underway at the Weser Stadium and Bremen continue how they finished the first half by taking the game to Stuttgart on the edge of their box.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Bremen 1-0 Stuttgart

Bremen finish the half a goal ahead and it could have been more with the home side only getting better since their opener. Stuttgart have some thinking to do, with Zetterer so far having the better of their strikers.

45'

+ 3

Substitution

Pascal Stenzel

Leonidas Stergiou

Half-time

45'

+ 3

Substitution

Chris Führich

Enzo Millot

45'

+ 3

Could have been two!

Ducksch is found through on goal with a long ball but backspin on the pass tricks the striker who looked ready to score in the final minute to stoppage time.

45'

Undav off the bar!

Some superb football sees Guirassy find Mittelstadt on the overlap and his brilliant cross is headed off the underside of the bar by a flying Undav. The Germany international could have hardly come any closer.

44'

Ducksch hits one!

Another decent Bremen chance sees the ball left to goalscorer Ducksch on the edge of the box and his curler goes just wide of the far post.

Stuttgart's best chance went missing

Undav was so close to the opener in the sixth minute but some superb goalkeeping from Zetterer kept things level.

Relief for Ducksch

Ducksch tenth of the season has Bremen ahead.

36'

Millot first in the book

Millot isn't happy when Bittencourt appears to pat him on the back of the head after a tangle. A few head-to-heads get heated before the referee calms things down.

35'

Yellow card

Enzo Millot

33'

Excellent goalkeeping!

Stuttgart force a 3 v 2 and it looks like trouble as Undav plays in Guirassy, however, just as he gets there Zetterer brilliantly slides in and clears the ball first.

32'

Bremen growing in confidence

The home side have clearly been boosted by the goal and Woltemade sets them up for another decent attack before Agu fires in a great cross, Stuttgart deal with this one, but only just...

30'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes

Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.

Hiroki Ito32.66km/h

Romano Schmid31.80km/h

Marco Friedl31.58km/h

29'

Ducksch fires in it!

Ducksch has a long wait with a VAR check and some admin, but he slots into the right hand corner, just past Nubel's fingertips. Bremen have not lost a game yet this season after taking the lead...

28'

Marvin Ducksch

GOAL!

1:0

Penalty

Goal probability

77 %

Shot speed

Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.

103.96 km/h

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11 m

27'

Penalty Bremen!

Stuttgart get caught out as Agu flies into the box and gets taken down by Leweling, the referee is in no doubt and points to the spot.

27'

Yellow card

Jamie Leweling

26'

SituationPenalty

ReviewFoul?

DecisionPenalty

23'

Close!

Guirassy has his first effort on goal from a free-kick but it's blocked, however, the ball still ends up on target and Zetterer is forced into a brilliant save, tipping the ball over the bar.

20'

Woltemade wide

Woltemade has Bremen's first clear chance but drags his shot just wide. The 22-year-old has been heavily involved so far.

16'

Leweling gets to work

One of Stuttgart's star performers, Leweling, fires a cross through the area to Mittelstadt but the German left back can't connect.

15'

Almost!

A clever pass from Agu finds Ducksch in the box but he has Anton all over him. The Germany international does well to snuffle what could have been an easy finish.

14'

A decent position...

Bremen win a free kick out wide on the left hand side of Stuttgart's box, but the cross in is easily cleared.

11'

Woltemade tries his luck

A decent first spell of possession around the away box ends in a shot for Woltemade, but it's blocked just outside the box.

Big chance

xGoals

The xG stats show just how big Undav's opening chance was.

xGoals

0.0

0.34

Goals

First chance!

Undav latches on to lovely ball round the corner and is left one-on-one with Zetterer. The keeper stands up tall and blocks a great chance with his chest.

The deadly duo

Guirassy and Undav have already shown some lovely touches and exchanges the kind of moments that have made them the league's highest-scoring duo.

We're underway!

Bremen get things started at home but it's mere seconds before Guirassy forces them to give up the ball with some excellent pressing.

Kick-off!

Back to the top

Stuttgart are now just seven points from returning to the Champions League for the first time in 14 years, however, with the Bundesliga already excelling in Europe this year, VfB will have already secured their spot should a fifth place be awarded.

Two changes each

After a 5-0 defeat last time out which saw Bayer Leverkusen crowned champions, Bremen head coach Ole Werner is able to bring Friedl and Jung back into his defence following suspensions, with Groß and Malatini dropping back to the bench. It's a similar story for Stuttgart's Hoeneß who sees Nübel and Millot return after Bredlow and Führich deputised in a 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

How things stand

A win today for Stuttgart would further solidify their grip on Champions League football next season with top four rivals Borussia Dortmund seven points behind and facing champions Bayer Leverkusen later this afternoon. Bremen, meanwhile, could certainly do with halting a seven-game winless run, as a win for Wolfsburg yesterday drew them every closer to the bottom three.

Bremen starting XI

Zetterer - Jung, Friedl (c), Veljković - Weiser, Bittencourt, Lynen, Schmid, Agu - Woltemade, Ducksch

Bremen subs

Dos Santos Haesler, Malatini, Groß, Röcker, Deman, Opitz, Kownacki

Stuttgart starting XI

Nübel - Stergiou, Anton, (c), Ito, Mittelstädt - Leweling, Karazor, Stiller, Millot - Undav, Guirassy

Stuttgart subs

Bredlow, Stenzel, Rouault, Chase, Dahoud, Jeong, Haraguchi, Führich, Katompa Mvumpa

How things stand

Victory today would be a major shot in the arm for Werder's survival hopes, with the hosts currently five points clear of third-bottom Mainz. Defeat, paired with a Mainz victory later on, though, would drastically change things. As for Stuttgart, all three points would keep them level with Bayern and all0but secure Champions League football next season.

Probable line-ups

Who’s set to play this weekend? Who’s going to miss out? Keep up to date with all the latest team news right here!

Werner's view on Stuttgart

"They're a top side who have a similar playing style to Leverkusen. Both teams try to try to lure the opposition in, create space and carve out situations where they can use their pace to get past the last line of defence. We're preparing ourselves for them to do exactly that. That being said, there are differences between the sides in terms of personnel, and no two games of football are the exact same."

Hoeneß's view on Bremen

“They want to play positive football, as they did away at Leverkusen. They were bold there. It isn’t easy to attack Bremen, they’re flexible, they have a keeper who takes part in their build-up play, [Michael] Zetterer. They have flexible midfielders, they often play with two forwards that aren’t in one line, which isn’t always easy to defend. It’s hard to play against them, that’s clear, and there can be a lot of energy in Bremen.”