Can Werder recover from a nightmare start? Werder Bremen vs RB Leipzig prediction - 05.09.2026
The second round of the 2026/27 Bundesliga will bring Werder Bremen and RB Leipzig together at the Weserstadion on Saturday, September 5, with kick-off scheduled for 15:30 CEST. The teams could hardly have started the new league campaign more differently: Werder were beaten 4-1 away to Freiburg, while Leipzig opened Martín Demichelis' Bundesliga tenure with an impressive 3-0 home victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Werder Bremen: injuries have made a difficult start even more complicated
Daniel Thioune entered the new season with realistic expectations. After Werder finished 15th with 32 points last campaign, the coach publicly identified reaching 40 points as quickly as possible as the team's first objective. He also wants Bremen to become more resilient without the ball and attack more directly after recovering possession. The opening weekend, however, demonstrated just how much work remains to be done.
Werder conceded four times in Freiburg, with Yuito Suzuki scoring a hat-trick. Dariusz Stalmach's late header was only a consolation. More importantly, the defeat came with another major personnel blow: Justin Njinmah suffered a thigh injury and has been ruled out for the coming months.
He joins Jens Stage on the long-term absentee list. Stage suffered a serious thigh injury immediately before the Freiburg game and is not expected back this year. Felix Agu, Keke Topp and Oskar Wójcik were also still in rehabilitation ahead of the opening round, while Mitchell Weiser had not yet regained sufficient match fitness.
Bremen responded aggressively in the final days of the transfer window. Youri Regeer arrived to strengthen midfield, while Moussa Ndiaye and Arthur increased Thioune's options at full-back and in central defence. Regeer joined team training on September 2, so the newcomers could gradually become important, although integrating several players immediately is another challenge for a side already trying to rebuild its structure.
Niclas Füllkrug remains the obvious reference point up front. His physical presence gives Werder a route out of pressure and a target for crosses, while Marco Grüll and Eren Dinkçi can provide movement around him. Against Leipzig, however, Bremen's biggest problem may be further back: Thioune's team cannot afford the spaces between midfield and defence that Freiburg exploited so efficiently.
RB Leipzig: Demichelis' new approach already looks dangerous
Leipzig arrive in Bremen in a completely different mood. They finished third last season with 65 points and secured a return to the Champions League, before Martín Demichelis took charge during the summer. His competitive start has been convincing: Leipzig defeated Eintracht Trier 6-0 in the cup and then dispatched Gladbach 3-0 in their Bundesliga opener.
The first league game already showed several characteristics Demichelis wants to establish. Leipzig played with intensity and aggression without the ball and looked to move forward quickly after regaining possession. Ridle Baku opened the scoring after combining with Tidiam Gomis, Antonio Nusa made it 2-0 shortly after half-time, and Rocco Reitz completed the victory. Gomis supplied two assists, while returning star Christopher Nkunku needed less than a minute after coming on to create Reitz's goal.
Nkunku's return has significantly increased the attacking options available to Leipzig. The Frenchman is already familiar with the club and adds creativity between the lines, while Nusa and Brajan Gruda give Demichelis explosive one-on-one ability on the wings. Leipzig also strengthened their centre-forward options on deadline day with the arrival of Marc Guiu.
There are still personnel issues. In the latest official squad update, Rômulo remained unavailable with a tendon problem, Ørjan Nyland was nearing his return, Assan Ouédraogo was recovering from a shoulder injury and Christoph Baumgartner was continuing his rehabilitation. Even without them, Leipzig were able to field a balanced 4-3-3 against Gladbach, with Seiwald controlling the centre and Reitz and Banzuzi supporting the press.
Probable lineups
- Werder Bremen: Hein – Schmetgens, Pieper, Friedl, Deman – Lynen, Reis, Chuki – Dinkçi, Füllkrug, Grüll.
- RB Leipzig: Vandevoordt – Baku, Orbán, Lukeba, Raum – Reitz, Seiwald, Banzuzi – Gruda, Gomis, Nusa.
The selections are based on the latest available team news and the starting lineups used on the opening Bundesliga weekend. Werder must replace injured Njinmah, while Leipzig have far less reason to alter the structure that delivered a comfortable opening victory.
Match facts and head-to-heads
- Leipzig have won 13 of the 21 competitive meetings between the clubs, with five draws and only three Werder victories.
- Werder have not beaten Leipzig in the Bundesliga since May 2019.
- Leipzig won 2-1 at the Weserstadion in April 2026.
- Leipzig started the new Bundesliga season with a 3-0 win, while Werder opened with a 4-1 defeat.
- Leipzig finished third last season, while Bremen ended the campaign in 15th place.
Leipzig have too many weapons for a depleted Werder side: Werder Bremen vs RB Leipzig prediction
Playing at the Weserstadion should give Werder a stronger emotional response after the heavy defeat in Freiburg, and Füllkrug's presence means Leipzig cannot simply expect a comfortable afternoon. Bremen should be more aggressive at home and will try to turn the game into a physical battle.
Still, the matchup currently favours the visitors. Werder have lost two important players in Stage and Njinmah, several defenders are either unavailable or only working their way back towards full fitness, and three deadline-day additions have barely had time to train with their new teammates.
Leipzig, meanwhile, already look comfortable with Demichelis' high-intensity approach. Nusa and Gruda can attack Bremen's full-backs, Baku and Raum provide further width, while Nkunku gives the visitors an elite option either from the start or from the bench. Their recent head-to-head record is another important factor: Leipzig have repeatedly found ways to beat Werder, including at this stadium only five months ago.
Bremen are likely to offer more resistance than they did in Freiburg, but Leipzig's greater squad depth, speed in transition and current attacking confidence should ultimately make the difference.
Prediction: RB Leipzig to win.
