Werder Bremen secured a vital 1-0 away victory against VfL Wolfsburg, with Justin Njinmah’s second-half strike proving the decisive moment.
VfL Wolfsburg entered this Bundesliga fixture at Volkswagen Arena struggling, sitting 17th in the table. They needed points desperately to escape the relegation zone. Werder Bremen, positioned 15th, also sought to create distance from the bottom three.
The first half saw a cautious start from both sides. Wolfsburg commanded possession, trying to break down a resilient Bremen defense. However, clear-cut chances remained scarce for the home side.
Midway through the half, the physicality grew. Wolfsburg's defender Micky Jenz received the first yellow card of the match in the 39th minute for holding an opponent. This marked an increasingly tense encounter.
Despite Wolfsburg’s efforts, the first 45 minutes concluded without either team finding the net. Bremen focused on containing the home side, looking for counter-attacking opportunities. The score remained 0-0 at the break.
At halftime, the coaches surely demanded more attacking impetus from their teams. Wolfsburg needed to convert their possession into goals. Bremen looked to exploit any gaps as Wolfsburg pushed forward.
The second half began with more urgency. Both teams made early substitutions to inject fresh energy. Werder Bremen brought on Niklas Stark and Seny Mbangula in the 61st minute, altering their attacking shape.
Wolfsburg responded quickly with a change of their own, introducing Jorgen Lindstrom in the 64th minute. However, the tactical changes paid off for Bremen. In the 68th minute, Justin Njinmah broke the deadlock.
Njinmah fired home the opening goal, giving the visitors a crucial lead. Wolfsburg then pushed hard for an equalizer, bringing on Medy Amoura and Jonas Wind in the 73rd minute. Bremen’s defense stood firm under pressure.
As the match neared its conclusion, frustration mounted for Wolfsburg. Micky Jenz received a second yellow card in the 90+2 minute, leading to his dismissal. Lovro Majer also picked up a booking moments later in the 90+5 minute.
Statistics highlighted Wolfsburg’s struggle to convert chances, with an xG of 0.76 from 11 total shots. Bremen, despite fewer shots (8) and lower possession (43%), maximized their opportunities with an xG of 0.37. Goalkeeper Mio Backhaus made 4 crucial saves for Bremen.
This narrow 1-0 victory provides a significant boost for Werder Bremen, widening their gap to the relegation places. Wolfsburg, however, remains in a precarious position near the bottom of the Bundesliga table.
