Werder Bremen 2-1 Wolfsburg Player Ratings: Jens Stage Rated 8.5/10 as Late Drama Sees Bremen Clinch 2-1 Victory

What a rollercoaster of a Bundesliga match we just witnessed. Werder Bremen pulled off a stunning late comeback to snatch a 2-1 victory from the jaws of a defeat against VfL Wolfsburg. The game felt like it was slipping away from the home side for large spells. From our perspective, this was a classic tale of two halves.

VfL Wolfsburg looked comfortable after Mattias Svanberg put them ahead in the first half with a tidy finish. They controlled the tempo and seemed destined to see out the result. But whatever was said in the Bremen dressing room at halftime worked wonders. They came out a completely different animal.

The second half was a siege on the Wolfsburg goal. The pressure was relentless. Werder Bremen finally got their reward when Jens Stage headed in a deserved equalizer in the 83rd minute. Just when we thought it would end in a draw, substitute Samuel Mbangula became the hero, smashing home a winner in the dying moments of stoppage time. A truly incredible turnaround in this thrilling match.

Here are Werder Bremen Vs Wolfsburg Player Ratings

Werder Bremen Player Ratings vs Wolfsburg

Here are Werder Bremen Player Ratings vs Wolfsburg

Goalkeeper

Mio Backhaus - 6.5: He couldn't do much about the goal he conceded. Made a few important saves to keep his team in the game, especially a good stop from Maximilian Arnold in the first half. A solid, if not spectacular, performance. He commanded his box well enough and his distribution was tidy.

Defenders

Yukinari Sugawara - 8.0: A fantastic attacking display from the right-back. He delivered a perfect cross for the equalizing goal and was a constant menace down the flank. Created five chances in total, which is incredible for a defender. He was a little suspect defensively a couple of times but his offensive contribution was absolutely vital to the comeback.

Amos Pieper - 7.5: A rock at the back for Bremen. He won almost every duel he contested and was a commanding presence in the air. We noticed he was a major threat on set-pieces too, forcing a good save early on. A very strong and composed performance from the central defender.

Karim Coulibaly - 6.5: Had a steady game before being substituted. He made four important clearances and was generally solid. Didn't make any glaring errors and contributed to a defense that grew stronger as the game progressed. A decent outing.

Marco Friedl - 6.0: As captain, he tried to lead by example but it was a mixed performance. He picked up a silly yellow card and seemed a bit rash at times. While he made some key interceptions, he also lost possession more than you'd like. An average day at the office for him.

Midfielders

Jens Stage - 8.5: Our man of the match. What a performance. He was the engine room for Bremen, covering every blade of grass and winning battles all over the pitch. He popped up with the crucial equalizing goal, a powerful header that sparked the comeback. His energy was infectious and he drove his team forward relentlessly. An immense display.

Senne Lynen - 7.0: A really tidy performance in the heart of midfield. His passing was crisp and accurate, and he provided a great shield for the defense. He won his duels and kept possession moving effectively. A quietly excellent game before he was substituted.

Marco Grüll - 7.0: He worked his socks off for the team. His ball recovery was outstanding, winning it back nine times. He was always looking to get involved and put in a tireless shift on the left. A really solid, hard-working performance that helped lay the foundation for the late drama.

Romano Schmid - 7.5: The creative spark for much of the game. He was a constant threat, creating five chances and always looking for that killer pass. However, he was also very frustrating, losing the ball far too often. An exciting but ultimately inconsistent performance, though his creativity was key.

Forwards

Justin Njinmah - 6.0: A lively but ineffective display. He showed flashes of danger but was caught offside twice and struggled to make a real impact on the game. His final ball was lacking before he was taken off. Not his best day.

Keke Topp - 5.5: It was a very difficult evening for the young forward. He was isolated for long periods and struggled to get into the game. He lost the physical battle with the Wolfsburg defenders and didn't manage a single shot. A learning experience for him.

Substitutes

Samuel Mbangula - 8.0: The super-sub and the match-winner. What an introduction. He came on and scored the dramatic winning goal with a composed finish in stoppage time. An unforgettable impact that sent the home fans into ecstasy.

Victor Boniface - 7.0: He made a huge difference after coming on. His physical presence and direct running caused all sorts of problems for the Wolfsburg defense. He was unlucky not to score himself. A game-changing substitution.

Isaac Schmidt - N/A: Came on too late to make an impact.

Leonardo Bittencourt - N/A: Brought on in the final minutes to see the game out.

Cameron Puertas - N/A: A late cameo appearance.

Manager

H. Steffen - 8.0: His decisions won the game. Plain and simple. The team looked lost at 1-0 down, but his halftime talk and substitutions were perfect. Bringing on Boniface and Mbangula completely turned the tide. A tactical masterclass in the second half.

Wolfsburg Player Ratings vs Werder Bremen

Here are Wolfsburg Player Ratings vs Werder Bremen

Goalkeeper

Kamil Grabara - 7.5: He deserved better than a loss. Made five saves, including a couple of absolutely brilliant stops to deny Bremen time and again. He was commanding and did everything he could. He can't be blamed for either of the goals. A top performance.

Defenders

Saël Kumbedi - 6.5: He provided a great assist for Svanberg's goal with a well-timed pass. He looked good going forward. Defensively, however, he was stretched in the second half as Bremen piled on the pressure. A decent outing overall.

Jenson Seelt - 6.5: For most of the match, he was solid. He made some important tackles and clearances and looked comfortable. But like the rest of the defense, he was overwhelmed by Bremen's late onslaught. A good performance that was undone at the end.

Moritz Jenz - 4.5: A day to forget. While he made some clearances, his performance will be remembered for the critical error that led to a goal. It was a moment that cost his team dearly. From our perspective, that mistake was the turning point.

Aaron Zehnter - 6.5: A solid and reliable performance at left-back. He was tidy in possession and made a few key passes going forward. Defensively he was sound and didn't make any major mistakes. One of the better performers for Wolfsburg.

Midfielders

Vinicius de Souza Costa - 7.5: An absolute monster in the defensive midfield role. He won a staggering number of duels and his passing was almost perfect. He was a brilliant shield for the back four and barely put a foot wrong. A fantastic individual display.

Maximilian Arnold - 6.0: A strange game from the captain. He made an incredible nine clearances, playing almost like a third center-back at times. But his passing was unusually sloppy and he lost possession too frequently. Not his finest hour.

Christian Eriksen - 6.5: He tried to pull the strings but struggled to find his rhythm. Showed moments of class and had a shot on target, but he couldn't impose himself on the match as he would have liked. Worked hard defensively before being subbed.

Mattias Svanberg - 7.0: Scored a very well-taken goal to give his side the lead. He was a constant threat in the first half and looked like Wolfsburg's most dangerous player. It was a surprise to see him substituted. His departure seemed to shift the balance.

Forwards

Adam Daghim - 5.5: He ran a lot but with very little end product. Lost possession an alarming 20 times and struggled to link up with his teammates. A frustrating performance where his effort didn't match his effectiveness.

Mohamed Amoura - 5.0: He was completely anonymous. He won only two of his nine duels and was a passenger for most of the game. He offered no threat and was easily handled by the Bremen defense. A really poor showing.

Substitutes

Patrick Wimmer - 5.5: Came on but failed to make any positive impact. He gave away a couple of fouls and couldn't help his team regain control. A disappointing cameo.

Jonas Wind - 5.5: Barely touched the ball after coming on. Was caught offside in a promising position. Offered very little.

Dzenan Pejcinovic - N/A: Not on long enough to receive a rating.

Manager

P. Simonis - 5.0: His team had the lead and looked in control, but they completely fell apart. His substitutions failed to change the momentum, and his side had no answer to Bremen's second-half pressure. He'll be furious they let a winning position slip so dramatically.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Jens Stage