Werder Bremen 1-1 FC Köln: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Bwin’s post-match review of Werder Bremen 1-1 FC Köln in the Bundesliga on Saturday, 29 November 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Werder Bremen took an early lead in the 22nd minute when M. Friedl scored, assisted by J. Stage, giving the hosts a platform to build on in a tightly contested first half. FC Köln made an early substitution at 12 minutes, with R. van den Berg replacing D. Heintz, and picked up a yellow card for A. Castro-Montes in the 38th minute, but neither side could add to the scoreline before the break. At half-time, both teams made changes, with Werder Bremen bringing on N. Stark for A. Pieper, while FC Köln substituted T. Krauss for A. Castro-Montes and K. Lund for I. Johannesson.

The second half saw Werder Bremen have a goal disallowed for offside by K. Topp in the 55th minute, maintaining their slender advantage. Substitutions continued, with V. Boniface replacing K. Topp for Bremen at 70 minutes, and FC Köln introducing L. Waldschmidt for C. Ozkacar at 74 minutes and F. Kainz for E. Martel at 82 minutes, alongside yellow cards accumulating for both sides.

The match turned dramatic late on as S. El Mala equalised for FC Köln in the 90+1st minute, assisted by K. Lund, before N. Stark received a second yellow and subsequent red card for Werder Bremen in the 90+6th minute, leaving them to hold on for the draw.

Possession was almost evenly split at 49% for Werder Bremen and 51% for FC Köln, reflecting a balanced encounter where neither side dominated territorially, though Köln’s slight edge may have contributed to their late pressure leading to the equaliser. Werder Bremen held a clear advantage in corners with 4 to Köln’s 0, suggesting better set-piece opportunities, while successful dribbles were close at 38 for Bremen and 40 for Köln, indicating fluid attacking play from both.

Cards played a role in the game’s tension, with Bremen receiving 2 yellows and 1 red—N. Stark’s second yellow leading to his dismissal in stoppage time—compared to Köln’s 4 yellows, which disrupted their rhythm but did not prevent the injury-time goal; assists were level at 1 each, underscoring the key individual contributions to the scoring.

Substitutions saw Werder Bremen use 3, starting with N. Stark replacing A. Pieper at 46 minutes to shore up defence, followed by V. Boniface for K. Topp at 70 minutes and S. Mbangula for C. Puertas at 81 minutes, potentially aiming to refresh the attack. FC Köln utilised all 5 available, beginning early with R. van den Berg for D. Heintz at 12 minutes, then T. Krauss for A. Castro-Montes and K. Lund for I. Johannesson at 46 minutes, L. Waldschmidt for C. Ozkacar at 74 minutes, and F. Kainz for E. Martel at 82 minutes, which helped maintain energy and ultimately set up the equaliser without any penalties or additional injury-time goals beyond the one recorded.

The decisive goals shaped the outcome, with M. Friedl’s 22nd-minute strike, assisted by J. Stage, giving Werder Bremen an early edge that they defended for much of the match. A potential turning point came in the 55th minute when K. Topp’s goal for Bremen was disallowed for offside, preserving the 1-0 lead but denying them a cushion.

Late drama unfolded as S. El Mala’s 90+1st-minute equaliser, assisted by K. Lund, rescued a point for FC Köln, shortly before N. Stark’s red card in the 90+5th minute—following his second yellow—left Werder Bremen a man down in the dying seconds.

Impact substitutions also influenced the flow, such as FC Köln’s early change at 12 minutes with R. van den Berg replacing D. Heintz and rearranging the backline, and their half-time switches injected fresh legs. Werder Bremen’s introduction of V. Boniface for K. Topp at 70 minutes aimed to bolster the forward line, but it was Köln’s persistence that paid off in stoppage time.

Werder Bremen lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, providing a solid defensive base with M. Friedl anchoring the backline and contributing offensively, while partnerships like J. Stage in midfield supported the attacking trio effectively.

FC Köln deployed a 3-4-3 shape, allowing for width through the wing-backs and a dynamic front line, with players like K. Lund providing key assists from midfield to link up with forwards such as S. El Mala.

S. El Mala earned Man of the Match honours for FC Köln with his crucial 90+1st-minute equaliser, assisted by K. Lund, which salvaged a valuable point in a hard-fought draw; his composure under pressure stood out in an otherwise even contest.

Recent Bundesliga matches:

• Draw: 1-1 vs FC Köln (H)
• Loss: 0-2 vs RB Leipzig (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs VfL Wolfsburg (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs FSV Mainz 05 (A)
• Win: 1-0 vs FC Union Berlin (H)

Recent Bundesliga matches:

• Draw: 1-1 vs Werder Bremen (A)
• Loss: 3-4 vs Eintracht Frankfurt (H)
• Loss: 1-3 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach (A)
• Win: 4-1 vs Hamburger SV (H)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Borussia Dortmund (A)

Werder Bremen will look to bounce back from this late draw, where they lost a lead and a player to a red card, as they aim to improve their defensive resilience in upcoming matches.

FC Köln can take positives from their stoppage-time equaliser, building momentum from the point earned as they prepare for their next challenge.

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