Werder Bremen 1-0 St Pauli Player Ratings: Stage Rated 8/10 as Mbangula's Stunner Secures a 1-0 Victory

What a tense affair that was at the Wohninvest Weserstadion. Werder Bremen snatched a narrow 1-0 victory against St. Pauli, and it all came down to one moment of brilliance right at the start. From our perspective, this Bundesliga match was a game of two halves in a strange way, one before the goal and one after.

Just two minutes in, Samuel Mbangula unleashed an absolute rocket from outside the box that flew into the net. After that, Werder Bremen seemed content to sit back, absorb pressure, and protect their precious lead. It was a classic rope-a-dope strategy that you see so often in tense league games. It made for a nervy watch.

St. Pauli, to their credit, threw everything they had at Bremen. They dominated the ball and created several good opportunities but just couldn't find that final, clinical touch. Their goalkeeper, Karl Hein, was a wall, making some crucial saves that ultimately won his team the three points. It felt like one of those days for St. Pauli where nothing would go in, no matter what they tried in this match.

Here are Werder Bremen Vs St Pauli Player Ratings

Werder Bremen Player Ratings vs St Pauli

Here are the Werder Bremen Player Ratings vs St Pauli

Goalkeeper

Karl Hein - 7.5: We thought he was excellent. Made three vital saves, two from inside the box, to preserve the clean sheet. Commanded his area well and his distribution was solid, finding a teammate over 80% of the time. A really confident performance under pressure.

Defenders

Yukinari Sugawara - 6.5: A steady if unspectacular game. He got forward to have a shot on target but was sometimes a bit loose in possession. Defensively he was sound, making four clearances and not shirking his duties. Did what was asked of him.

Karim Coulibaly - 7.0: A really solid outing at the back. Missed a big chance, which was a shame, but his defensive work was top-notch. He made 5 clearances and won the majority of his duels, looking strong and composed throughout. We were impressed by his resilience.

Marco Friedl - 7.5: The captain was superb. He led by example with an incredible 92% pass accuracy, recycling possession effortlessly. He read the game beautifully, making 6 clearances and 2 interceptions. A true captain's display, marshaling the backline to a clean sheet.

Felix Agu - 6.0: It's hard to give a full rating as he was forced off with an injury just before halftime. In his 45 minutes, he looked bright and alert, making a couple of interceptions. A promising start cut short unfortunately.

Midfielders

Jens Stage - 8.0: What an engine on this guy. He was everywhere. He won an astounding 11 duels, created a big chance, and was a constant thorn in St. Pauli's side. The yellow card was the only blot on his copybook. From our perspective, he was the best player on the pitch.

Senne Lynen - 7.0: The unsung hero in midfield. He was incredibly tidy on the ball, with 85% pass accuracy, and recovered the ball 9 times for his team. He just kept things ticking over, allowing others to shine. A very disciplined and effective performance.

Cameron Puertas - 5.5: A day to forget for him, really. He lost possession a staggering 24 times and picked up a silly yellow card. He was trying to force things, but his decision-making was poor and he looked frustrated. Just wasn't his game.

Forwards

Samuel Mbangula - 7.5: Scored an absolutely sensational goal that decided the match. For that alone, his rating is high. He did fade out of the game after his early heroics but his one moment of magic was enough. Job done.

Justin Njinmah - 5.5: He really struggled to make any impact. In 60 minutes, he barely got on the ball and offered very little threat going forward. It was no surprise to see him substituted. A very quiet and ineffective display.

Romano Schmid - 7.0: Bremen's creative hub. He created four chances, including one big one, and was always looking for that killer pass. Sometimes his execution was off, but his positive intent drove his team forward. A lively and dangerous performance.

Substitutes

Isaac Schmidt - N/A: Came on for the injured Agu and looked decent.
Marco Grüll - N/A: Showed some intent with a couple of blocked shots right after coming on.
Patrice Covic - N/A: Had one late shot saved.
Victor Boniface - N/A: Not enough time to make an impact.

Manager

H. Steffen - 7.0: His team got the crucial early goal and then he set them up perfectly to defend it. It wasn't pretty, but it was incredibly effective. His game management secured the three points, and you can't argue with that.

St Pauli Player Ratings vs Werder Bremen

Here are St Pauli Player Ratings vs Werder Bremen

Goalkeeper

Nikola Vasilj - 6.5: He stood no chance with the goal, it was an unstoppable strike. After that, he made a couple of important saves to keep his team in the contest. A solid performance in a losing effort.

Defenders

Hauke Wahl - 6.5: Saw a lot of the ball, with over 100 touches, but his performance was a bit mixed. His error leading to a shot was a nervy moment. He was solid for the most part but that mistake tarnishes his rating slightly.

Eric Smith - 7.5: A colossal performance from the captain. He was a rock, making 5 clearances and blocking 4 shots. His distribution was almost flawless at 91% accuracy. Despite being on the losing side, he was one of the best players on the park.

Lars Ritzka - 5.0: It was a very tough afternoon for him. He really struggled, winning only 2 of his 8 duels and looking off the pace. It felt inevitable that he would be substituted, and he was hooked after 71 minutes.

Midfielders

James Sands - 6.0: He was busy and put in a shift, but he gave away too many cheap fouls. He never really managed to stamp his authority on the midfield battle before being substituted. An okay performance, nothing more.

Arkadiusz Pyrka - 6.5: Looked very dangerous in the first half, forcing a save and having another shot fly just wide. His influence seemed to fade as the game went on, which was a shame because he started so brightly.

Joel Chima Fujita - 7.0: An all-action display. He was a ball of energy, recovering the ball 11 times and creating 3 chances for his teammates. A bit reckless with his tackling at times but his overall contribution was hugely positive.

Louis Oppie - 6.5: Very neat and tidy on the ball, but what stood out to us was how he struggled in physical battles. He lost 6 of his 10 duels, which is a concern. A decent performance on the ball but needs to be stronger.

Forwards

Danel Sinani - 7.0: He was St. Pauli's main attacking threat, constantly on the ball and trying to make things happen. He created a big chance but was also dispossessed 6 times, showing his frustration. A good but ultimately fruitless performance.

Martijn Kaars - 5.5: He was completely starved of service. Just 31 touches tells the story of his afternoon. He worked hard and won a few headers but was totally isolated and couldn't get a shot away. A difficult day at the office.

Mathias Pereira Lage - 6.0: He'll be kicking himself for that big chance he missed. In a tight game like this, those are the moments that count. He got into a good position but lacked the composure to finish. Worked hard otherwise.

Substitutes

Connor Metcalfe - N/A: Looked eager to shoot, getting a couple of efforts away from distance.
Manolis Saliakas - N/A: Provided a decent cross that led to a chance.
Abdoulie Ceesay - N/A: Not on long enough to make a real difference.

Manager

A. Blessin - 6.0: It's hard to fault his tactics too much. His team controlled the game but were undone by one moment of magic. Perhaps he could have changed things earlier, but his side was unlucky not to get at least a point.

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