Highlights

Matchday 8

FINAL

Weserstadion

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

SchmidRomano Schmid

90'

77'

AguFelix Agu

DuckschMarvin Ducksch

74'

30'

BonifaceVictor Boniface

F. Badstübner

Weserstadion

0:20

Watch: Xhaka frustrated by draw in Bremen

Full-time: Werder Bremen 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen

What a match! Leverkusen twice went in front with some great skill and stroke of luck, but plucky Bremen believed in themselves and took the match to the champions - and scored their first two home goals of the season. A deserved pojnt for each side in this Saturday night headliner.

Full-time

90'

+ 5

All-out attack!

Both teams are now playing further forward. Njinmah runs alone towards Hrádecký but is stopped. But it was also offside.

90'

+ 2

Five minutes added on

Will there be another late goal in this thriller?

Screamer from Schmid!

Bremen draw level minutes from the end as Schmid pops up on the edge of the area to lash a spectacular right-footed curler past Hrádecký. What a game!

90'

Romano Schmid

GOAL!

2:2

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.

4 %

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.

19.61 m

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.

Jeremie Agyekum Frimpong34.20km/h

Piero Martin Hincapie Reyna33.60km/h

Oliver Burke33.44km/h

88'

Yellow card

Piero Hincapié

86'

Substitution

Keke Topp

Julián Malatini

84'

Wirtz off the post!

Unmarked on the edge of the area, Wirtz unleashes a powerful effort but, rather than finding the back of the net, it puts a dent in Zetterer's left-hand post.

82'

Substitution

Derrick Köhn

Felix Agu

82'

Substitution

Anthony Jung

Amos Pieper

82'

Substitution

Oliver Burke

Marco Grüll

82'

Substitution

Aleix García

Martin Terrier

77'

Agu scores... for Leverkusen

Under pressure from Frimpong in the area, Agu fluffs his clearance and ends up lashing past Zetterer. Very unfortunate for the home side just minutes after they had managed a leveller...

77'

Felix Agu

OWN GOAL!

1:2

Duscksch gets his goal!

Duscksch breaks Werder's home hoodoo and gets the Nebelhorn sounding once more! Following a scramble in the box, Malatini's chipped pass finds the stylish striker at the far post and he nods home across Hrádecký. Finally!

74'

Marvin Ducksch

GOAL!

1:1

Goal probability

18 %

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.

8.96 m

70'

Ducksch again!

The forward goes close to bagging Werder's first home goal of the season, but his thumoing effort is turned wide by Hrádecký.

70'

Schick reaplces Boniface

Goalscorer Boniface, injured in a car accident at the weekend, makes way for Schick in a like-for-like change by Xabi Alonso.

70'

Substitution

Patrik Schick

Victor Boniface

68'

Superb interception from Schmid

proves prescient in midfield and intercepts what should have been a routine pass, racing off on the counter and picking out Ducksch. But the forward's effort doesn't trouble Hrádecký.

68'

Substitution

Justin Njinmah

Leonardo Bittencourt

63'

Wirtz!

Teed up by Frimpong, the Leverkusen playmaker races into the area and fires off a powerful low shot, but Zetterer once again stands firm.

61'

Ball Recovery Time

Ball Recovery Time gives the time in seconds in which it takes a team to win back the ball following a loss of possession. It also allows conclusions to be drawn about a team's style of play. Only time when the ball is in play is counted (i.e. no breaks in play such as for goal-kicks, throw-ins etc).

SVW

B04

19.1 s

13.2 s

59'

Play stops

Bittencourt remains in the centre of the field after a collision with Terrier and needs treatment.

56'

Huge save from Zetterer!

On the edge of the Werder area, Wirtz lays it of for the unmarked Boniface, who gets his thumping shot on target. But Zetterer is equal to the task.

54'

Grimaldo back

The Bayer left-back returns to the pitch and looks ok to continue.

Zetterer activates!

Following the free-kick, Wirtz and Terrier both have chances to score in quick succession, but both are saved by Bremen's goalkeeper.

50'

Sliding tackle

Weiser leaps into a tackle on Grimaldo and catches the Spaniard's ankle, earning a sanction. The Bayer man leaves the field to receive treatment.

50'

Yellow card

Mitchell Weiser

47'

Pressure Handling

This Match Fact examines how successfully players perform under pressure. The percentage of "solved situations" indicates how often a player has freed himself from opponent pressure by dribbling, passing, scoring a goal or drawing a foul.

100%

Marvin Ducksch

10 times under pressure

46'

We're back!

No changes for either side as the second half kicks off. Will it continue to be Werder playing good football and Bayer doing the scoring? Bremen need to get clinical in front of goal, but there is little doubt they can create the chances, while Leverkusen clearly have the quality to score again. Let's go!

Kick-off!

Half-time Werder Bremen 0-1 Bayer Leverkusen

Bremen started the brighter and looked a good chance to get their first home goal of the season, but reigning champions Leverkusen's pedigree showed when stars Wirtz, Frimpong and Boniface combined for an opener that came somewhat against the run of play. Werner's men need to capitalise on their excellent play if they are to get back into the match and look to clinch a first home win of the season.

Half-time

45'

+ 1

Two minutes added on

Not long for the home side to hit back and go into the break on level terms.

42'

Grüll threatens

Agu receives a long pass at the left edge of the box and heads it across for the Austrian who, under pressure, can't keep his effort down.

37'

Weiser on the turn!

Weiser fends off grimaldo and chests down a high cross with his back to goal, then turns and lashes a powerful shot... but can't keep it down. Impressive skills from the right-back.

32'

Leverkusen club record

Leverkusen scored in their 21st away game in a row. The Werkself has never done that before in their history in the Bundesliga. This is also the longest current streak in the Bundesliga.

Boniface!

A deft pass behind the defence by Wirtz finds Frimpong, who crosses for Boniface to conjure a deadly first-time finish at the near post and bag his sixth of the season.

30'

Victor Boniface

GOAL!

0:1

Goal probability

52 %

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.

6.59 m

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.

Jeremie Agyekum Frimpong34.20km/h

Florian Wirtz33.24km/h

Felix Agu33.18km/h

26'

Bayer on the ball

The visitors have calmed matters somewhat, maintaining possession and looking to build rather than hitting on the break.

23'

Werder working well

The hosts are showing plenty of drive and excellent movement, and a little bit more precision could have seen Weiser's effort from Ducksch's cut-back do more damage.

19'

Brilliant save!

Schmid plays it into the centre and then lays it off to the left for Ducksch, who fires and forces Hrádecký to use all of his 192 centimetres to get a fingertip to the ball and send it out for a corner.

Massive chance for Ducksch!

Weiser conjures a superb pass from wide on the half-way line and Ducksch races through on goal, but his lofted effort doesn't trouble Hrádecký. Sharp stuff from Weiser.

First shot for Bayer

Andrich gets the ball on the edge of the area and fires of a shot before he is closed down. But his effort goes high and wide.

Up for it

Bremen are pressing Bayer high up the pitch and giving them very little time on the ball.

Foot to the floor

Grimaldo is one step quicker than his opponent Malatini on the left wing and passes the ball low into the centre. Boniface is waiting to receive it, but he doesn't quite make contact with the ball. It drifts away to the right. They could have done more with that.

Bremen on the front foot

The home side link up and get into the Leverkusen box from the kick-off, where Dusck fires a low shot at Hrádecký from the left. The Leverkusen goalkeeper throws himself at the ball and takes care of business.

The ball is rolling!

The hosts, still looking for a first home win - and a first home goal - of the season, are in their customary green kits and kick off against Bayer, clad in black, who will look to defend their impressive away form.

Kick-off!

Serious stakes

Reigning Bundesliga champions Leverkusen can go provisionally joint-top of the table alongside Bayern with a win tonight, while Bremen have a chance to break into the top six.

Ole Werner's first principles

"What is important to me is that we find success as a team. It's not just about the strikers scoring goals, but also about many other things. Namely, that we operate well tactically and that the lads fulfil their basic tasks. If that goes well, the other points will follow, and then the positive things will come by themselves."

Xabi Alonso on the atmosphere at the Weserstadion

"The atmosphere is always brilliant there. We've never let it get to us and we've always taken it seriously there," said the Bayer boss, whose fans clearly take the trip seriously too, with over 4,200 of them making the trip. "The support of our own fans is extremely important for us. We always like to see our fans away from home and are happy to hear and see them. They give us an extra boost!"

One change from Werner

Bremen have only made one change to the team following last week's 4-2 success in Wolfsburg, with Pieper coming into the back line in place of Jung.

0:10

Watch: Pre-match pitch inspections

Wholesale changes from Alonso

Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso has made seven changes to his starting line-up following the 1-1 draw with Brest in the Champions League during the week. Tah, Hincapie, Grimaldo and Wirtz are the only players to retain their places.

0:08

Watch: Bremen arrive at the Weser-Stadion

Bremen starting XI

Zetterer - Malatini, Friedl (c), Pieper - Agu, Bittencourt, Lynen, Grüll - Weiser, Schmid – Ducksch

Bremen subs

Backhaus, Deman, Jung, Njinmah, Veljković, Burke, Köhn, Hansen-Aarøen, Topp

Leverkusen starting XI

Hrádecký (c) - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié - Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo - Terrier, Wirtz – Boniface

Leverkusen subs

Kovář, Lomb, Hofmann, Arthur, Schick, Tella, Mukiele, García, Palacios

1:51

Watch: The best link-ups between Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface

Enjoy some of the fine interplay between Leverkusen attackers Wirtz and Boniface.

Xabi Alonso on facing Werder Bremen

"Bremen have a lot of intelligent players. We want to perform with a lot of control and stability. Werder are a good team, and we have to be prepared and perform."

Ole Werner on facing Bayer Leverkusen

"They were extremely dominant on their way to winning the Bundesliga. Not much has changed in terms of their quality or their style of play. The depth of their squad may have even increased since then. There were moments in which we did well against them last season. In the end, we gave them too much space and weren't focused enough in attack. I hope to see signs that we are further along in our development as a team on Saturday."

Title memories

Last season's meeting with Werder in April saw Leverkusen wrap up the club's historic first Bundesliga title with a whopping 5-0 win - Florian Wirtz netting a hat-trick. Expect more goals in this one: games with Leverkusen this season have featured 31 goals, Werder 26.

2:03

Watch: Wolfsburg 2-4 Werder Bremen highlights

Werder recorded an impressive victory of Wolfsburg away from home, with three second-half goals propelling them to victory.

2:03

Watch: Leverkusen 2-1 Frankfurt highlights

Leverkusen put in a strong performance to defeat the in-form Frankfurt last time out.

Hello and welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 8 fixture between SV Werder Bremen and Bayer 04 Leverkusen.