Preview: Werder Bremen vs Bayer Leverkusen - prediction, team news, lineups

With both sides hoping to bounce back from defeat, Werder Bremen will welcome Bayer Leverkusen to Weserstadion on Saturday in the second matchweek of the 2025-26 Bundesliga season.

The Green-Whites suffered a 4-1 loss against Eintracht Frankfurt on August 23 and are second last in 17th place, but while the visitors are 12th, they also have no points as they were beaten 2-1 by Hoffenheim last Saturday.

Match preview

Werder Bremen can have few complaints with their defeat against Frankfurt considering they produced just one big chance while registering two shots on target in the box after the half-time interval.

The club's defensive performance last time out contrasts with their displays at the back at the end of 2024-25 given they only conceded four times in their final eight Bundesliga outings that campaign, keeping five clean sheets.

New boss Horst Steffen has started his career at the club with consecutive competitive losses, with his team losing 1-0 against Arminia Bielefeld on August 15 in the DFB-Pokal.

The Green-Whites were also defeated in their final five friendly matches prior to the beginning of 2025-26, and they drew three and won just one of their last four outings of 2024-25.

Werder Bremen have not played a home fixture this term, but they are unbeaten in their four most recent competitive games at Weserstadion, winning on two occasions.

Leverkusen had taken a sixth-minute lead against Hoffenheim thanks to newcomer Jarell Quansah's goal, but that effort was one of the team's two shots on target from inside the box.

Head coach Erik ten Hag is no stranger to opening-day defeats given he lost his first two league games in charge of Manchester United, though he did oversee four wins in the Red Devils' next four top-flight outings.

Die Werkself have now conceded 10 times in their last four Bundesliga matches, and though they did score seven goals in those fixtures.

The visitors were unable to beat the Green-Whites in 2024-25, losing 2-0 at home in March and drawing 2-2 at Weserstadion in October 2024.

Leverkusen have now failed to achieve victory in seven of their past 10 matches excluding friendlies, though they only suffered three losses in that time.

Die Schwarzroten's 4-0 triumph against Grossaspach in the DFB-Pokal on August 15 was their first win on the road in four, but it did extend their unbeaten record away from home to five games.

Werder Bremen Bundesliga form:

Werder Bremen form (all competitions):

Bayer Leverkusen Bundesliga form:

Bayer Leverkusen form (all competitions):

Team News

Werder Bremen centre-back Niklas Stark is certain to start, and he may be joined by Karim Coulibaly in a back four.

Senne Lynen was a stalwart in the XI last term, but with Jens Stage sidelined due to an ankle injury, he could be partnered by Leonardo Bittencourt.

Wingers Justin Njinmah and Samuel Mbangula can be expected to support forward Marco Grull.

Should opponents Leverkusen continue to deploy a back three, Quansah will likely be joined by Loic Bade and Edmond Tapsoba.

In the middle of the pitch, Robert Andrich and Aleix Garcia are candidates to feature in a double pivot on Saturday.

Striker Patrik Schick has made the number nine spot his own, and he is certain to play ahead of two supporting attackers.

Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:

Backhaus; Sugawara, Stark, Coulibaly, Agu; Bittencourt, Lynen; Njinmah, Schmid, Mbangula; Grull

Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:

Flekken; Quansah, Bade, Tapsoba; Arthur, Andrich, Garcia, Grimaldo; Tella, Maza; Schick

We say: Werder Bremen 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen

Leverkusen are still adjusting to life under new boss Erik ten Hag, and they may struggle to keep their hosts at bay.

Werder Bremen endured a poor pre-season and have begun 2025-26 with two defeats, so perhaps the visitors will be able to take advantage of their issues on the weekend.

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