RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen preview: Leipzig look to bounce back after break | OneFootball

RB Leipzig

Whilst a loss to Bayern before the break is hardly surprising given their quality, Sunday's hosts will be frustrated by their underwhelming performance on both ends of the pitch. They allowed nearly 3.3 expected goals (xG) while generating a mere 0.14 xG after Benjamin Sesko’s early second-minute goal, outlining just how much Leipzig struggled on the night against the pace-setters.

Marco Rose’s position as head coach came under scrutiny after a dismal run in November, where Leipzig lost five and drew one of six matches, conceding 15 goals while scoring only six.

Although Die Roten Bullen have won three of their last five outings, they also suffered two defeats during that span, including a 3-2 loss to Aston Villa on December 10, which ended their Champions League campaign.

Interestingly, Leipzig began their league season with remarkable defensive solidity, keeping six clean sheets in their first seven games and conceding just twice. However, their defensive form has since declined, with only two clean sheets in their subsequent eight Bundesliga fixtures. Offensively, the team has been underwhelming, ranking as the league’s 10th-best attack with 24 goals.

At home, Leipzig’s form has been inconsistent of late, with two losses, one draw, and one win in their last four matches across all competitions. That said, their overall Bundesliga record at Red Bull Arena remains strong, with just one defeat in their past 14 league games at the venue, securing nine victories in that period.

Team News

Leipzig are set to field a solid defensive unit, with Lukas Klostermann and Willi Orban expected to start as the central pairing. However, they will be without Benjamin Henrichs and Castello Lukeba, who have been ruled out.

In midfield, Forzan Assan Ouedraogo remains unavailable until April, and Xaver Schlager is a doubt, which could lead to Nicolas Seiwald and Arthur Vermeeren forming the central midfield partnership.

Up front, Yussuf Poulsen is nearing a return from a thigh injury, but regular starters Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda are likely to lead the attack on Sunday.

Werder Bremen

Bremen overcame Union Berlin by four goals to one heading into the winter break, with boss Ole Werner heavily praising his players following the victory.

"We played excellent football with some great link-up play, and all our goals were well worked. The fact that we did well when in possession was also key today, because Union defend well and haven't allowed their opponents many chances so far this season."

Die Grün-Weißen have demonstrated a balanced record in the league, scoring 26 goals and conceding 25, ranking as the eighth-best offensive side and tied for the 10th-best defensively.

Bremen are currently in strong form, boasting four consecutive wins in which they’ve kept three clean sheets and scored eight goals.

Their away performances have also been impressive, with the team securing victories in their last two road fixtures. Overall, they have won seven, drawn one, and lost only two of their 10 away games this season.

Team News

The visitors have an almost full squad available, though wing-back Felix Agu and striker Keke Topp remain sidelined.

Mitchell Weiser and Derrick Köhn are expected to play as wing-backs alongside a back three of Niklas Stark, Marco Friedl, and Anthony Jung. In midfield, Jens Stage and Senne Lynen could provide the central support for a forward trio of Marco Grüll, Romano Schmid, and Marvin Ducksch.