In a dramatic clash at the Wohninvest Weserstadion, Bayer Leverkusen fought back to secure a thrilling 3-3 draw against Werder Bremen in the second matchday of the Bundesliga season. Patrik Schick was the standout player, scoring two goals, including one from the penalty spot, but his efforts were matched by an impressive resurgence from Werder Bremen.
Leverkusen opened the scoring early in the 5th minute with a goal from Schick. Despite falling behind, Werder Bremen rallied with goals from Romano Schmid, Isaac Schmidt, and Karim Coulibaly, who equalized just as the game was nearing its end. Schick added a second with a penalty in the 64th minute, but the scores remained locked after a late surge from Bremen.
Notably, Malik Tillman also found the net for Leverkusen, showcasing a strong attacking display throughout the game. For Bremen, Schmid shined with a penalty conversion, while Coulibaly stood out at the back with his defensive prowess.
The match saw Werder Bremen’s coach Horst Steffen employing a 4-4-2 formation with Mio Backhaus in goal, supported by a robust defensive line of Felix Agu, Karim Coulibaly, Niklas Stark, and Yukinari Sugawara. The midfield featured Senne Lynen, Patrice Covic, Romano Schmid, and Marco Grüll, while their attack combined the pace of Samuel Mbangula and Justin Njinmah.
On the opposing side, Bayer Leverkusen’s Erik ten Hag used a 4-3-3 formation with Mark Flekken guarding the net. A solid defense of Axel Tape, Edmond Tapsoba, Jarell Quansah, and Alejandro Grimaldo protected the goal, while the midfield trio of Robert Andrich, Aleix García, and Malik Tillman orchestrated their attacks. Nathan Tella, Christian Kofane, and Patrik Schick led the offensive front.
Referee Robin Braun officiated the match, ensuring a balanced contest between the two teams. Following this draw, Werder Bremen occupies 15th place with 1 point, while Bayer Leverkusen sits slightly higher in 12th place, also with 1 point.
Substitutions for Werder Bremen:
65’ – Patrice Covic off for Leonardo Bittencourt; Justin Njinmah off for Skelly Alvero.
71’ – Samuel Mbangula off for Isaac Schmidt; Marco Grüll off for Keke Topp.
Yellow Cards for Werder Bremen:
37’ Senne Lynen, 49’ Niklas Stark, 46’ Isaac Schmidt.
Red Card for Werder Bremen:
18’ Niklas Stark (second yellow).
Substitutions for Bayer Leverkusen:
61’ – Aleix García off for Exequiel Palacios; 62’ – Malik Tillman off for Claudio Echeverri.
72’ – Axel Tape off for Loic Bade; Christian Kofane off for Ernest Poku.
87’ – Nathan Tella off for Ibrahim Maza.
Yellow Cards for Bayer Leverkusen:
12’ Christian Kofane, 25’ Nathan Tella, 41’ Jarell Quansah.
Upcoming fixtures see Werder Bremen traveling to Borussia Mönchengladbach, while Bayer Leverkusen will host Eintracht Frankfurt next.