Preview: Werder Bremen vs. RB Leipzig - prediction, team news, lineups

With 15 points to their name, the hosts head into the midweek fixture in 15th place, while the visitors are currently sitting in third position.

Match preview

Bremen will be pleased to finish 2023 with a match on home turf after taking just two points from their seven road trips, leaving them with the worst home record in the top flight.

The most recent of those points was picked up from Saturday's trip to Borussia-Park, where Borussia Monchengladbach's Rocco Reitz netted a brace to establish a 2-1 lead following Raphael Borre's opener, before Marvin Ducksch levelled in the 76th minute to ensure the spoils were shared.

While they managed to salvage a positive result from the weekend, Bremen's search for their first away win of the Bundesliga season will carry into the new year, as they turn their focus to Tuesday's clash with a tricky Leipzig side.

Ole Werner's side have fared reasonably well on home turf this season, winning four, drawing one and losing three of their eight league matches at the Weserstadion.

However, if they are to claim a fifth win in front of their own supporters, Bremen will need to beat Leipzig for the first time since recording a narrow 2-1 victory in May 2019.

Having won 10 of their 15 league matches this season, Leipzig have established a six-point gap over fifth-placed Dortmund, ensuring they will head into the new year in the top four.

They are also well set to carry significant momentum into the winter break after winning four consecutive matches across all competitions, including league wins over Heidenheim and Dortmund earlier this month.

Marco Rose's side followed those successful outings with a narrow Champions League win against Young Boys, before they beat Hoffenheim 3-1 in Saturday's Bundesliga clash thanks to goals from Lukas Klostermann, Emil Forsberg and Mohamed Simakan.

Forsberg's 70th-minute effort was a particularly special moment, as the 32-year-old came off the bench to score in his final home game before he ends his eight-year association with Leipzig and completes a January move to sister club New York Red Bulls in the MLS.

While Forsberg will bow out on Tuesday, Leipzig's main priority will be to continue their impressive record against Bremen after winning each of their last six head-to-head meetings.

Werder Bremen Bundesliga form:

D

D

L

L

W

D

RB Leipzig Bundesliga form:

L

W

L

W

W

W

RB Leipzig form (all competitions):

L

L

W

W

W

W

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Team News

Bremen duo Amos Pieper and Leon Opitz remain sidelined with ankle problems, while a foot injury will prevent Nicolai Rapp from featuring in the final game of 2023.

Defender Marco Friedl returned to the training to work on an individual programme at the end of last week, but while he may have stepped up his recovery, he is unlikely to play a role in Tuesday's contest.

Ducksch, who has netted seven league goals this season, will attempt to score in a third consecutive game when he leads the line alongside Eintracht Frankfurt loanee Rafael Borre.

As for the visitors, they are still unable to call upon the services of defender Willi Orban and attacker Dani Olmo due to knee and shoulder injuries respectively.

After coming off the bench to score against Hoffenheim, Forsberg could be presented with his fifth Bundesliga start of the season in what will be his final Leipzig appearance before he completes his move to the New York Red Bulls.

Lois Openda has scored 10 goals in 15 league appearances since arriving from Lens in the summer, and the Belgium international will look to round off a successful first half of the season by getting his name on the scoresheet when he features up front with Yussuf Poulsen.

Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:

Zetterer; Veljkovic, Stark, Jung; Weiser, Schmid, Stage, Bittencourt, Deman; Borre, Ducksch

RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:

Blaswich; Henrichs, Klostermann, Simakan, Raum; Forsberg, Haidara, Schlager, Simons; Openda, Poulsen

We say: Werder Bremen 1-3 RB Leipzig

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