49th minute: Werder almost caught out twice. Cunha was only a step too far forward to get on the end of Werner’s pass, while moments before Nkunku missed a free header set up by Sabitzer.
60th minute: Werder fail to clear the ball after Pavlenka saves Werner’s strike, resulting in a goalmouth scramble where, despite having three shots on goal, RBL are unable to add to their tally.
64th minute: Second yellow for Konrad Laimer. The Austrian is sent his marching orders due to a hand ball.
79th minute: The recently substituted Bargfrede cleverly plays in Bittencourt who takes it to the by-line, before Gulacsi manages to get hold of his attempted cutback.
83rd minute: Goal for Leipzig. 3-0. Marcelo Saracchi. Game over. Pavlenka did well to save from Haidara but the ball only falls into the path of Saracchi, who drives the rebound into the bottom-left corner.
90th minute + 2: Final whistle in Bremen. Leipzig take all three points.
Match summary: The Green-Whites played in their own half with a midfield-five, and utilised Leonardo Bittencourt as a left winger who constantly rotated between defensive and offensive duties. Despite having the lion’s share of the possession, the league leaders initially struggled to take the lead. They showed their clinical prowess though, by successfully converting two set pieces. Klaassen was also unlucky to not pull one back.
After half-time Bremen inevitably came forward with more regularity but left themselves exposed defensively and RBL had much more chances in the Bremen penalty area. Laimer’s dismissal in the second half gave Werder a brief second wind, but ultimately it wasn’t enough to make a difference.