Union Berlin 1-4 Werder Bremen Player Ratings: Bremen Run Riot After Red Card Drama To Score Four Past Union Berlin Away From Home

In a game that swung on a single moment of madness, Werder Bremen utterly dismantled a 10-man FC Union Berlin side, walking away from Stadion An der Alten Försterei with a stunning 4-1 victory. This Bundesliga encounter was a classic tale of two halves, or more accurately, two minutes. Initially, things looked promising for the home side.

They earned a penalty in the 18th minute, which Derrick Köhn coolly dispatched to give them the lead and sent the home crowd wild. But then, disaster struck. A straight red card for András Schäfer completely flipped the script. It was a decision that changed everything.

Werder Bremen, smelling blood, took complete control shortly after. They ruthlessly exploited their numerical advantage, with goals from Olivier Deman, the magnificent Jens Stage, and Marco Grüll sealing a comprehensive and deserved win in this memorable match.

Check out the Union Berlin vs Werder Bremen Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Werder Bremen controlled possession (75%) and even exceeded their xG of 1.96.
• Stanley N'Soki won the most ground duels (6).
• Oliver Deman recorded the most key passes in this game (4).

Werder Bremen Player Ratings vs Union Berlin

Have a look at the Werder Bremen Player Ratings from the Union Berlin vs Werder Bremen Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Mio Backhaus - 7.0: He was beaten by the penalty but couldn't be faulted for it. After that, he had a relatively quiet game. We noticed he was decisive in claiming high balls, showing good command of his area. His distribution was clean, helping launch attacks from the back. A solid, confident performance between the sticks.

Defenders

Olivier Deman - 8.5: What a game from the defender. He scored an absolute stunner to get his team back on level terms, a crucial moment in the match. Beyond the goal, he was a constant threat, making intelligent runs and delivering a key pass. Defensively, he was solid, winning most of his duels and making important clearances.

Yukinari Sugawara - 6.5: A steady if unspectacular performance from Sugawara. He was very tidy in possession, boasting a 91% pass accuracy. However, from our perspective, he didn't offer a great deal of attacking threat down the right. He did his defensive duties without any fuss but remained on the periphery of the action for large parts.

Niklas Stark - 5.0: A disastrous start to the game for the centre-back. He conceded the penalty with a clumsy challenge and picked up a yellow card for his troubles. It was no surprise to see him substituted at halftime. It was a decision that summed up his difficult 45 minutes on the pitch.

Marco Friedl - 7.0: A true captain's display. While his defensive partner struggled, Friedl was a composed and authoritative figure at the back. He was dominant in the air and on the ground, making crucial tackles and interceptions. His passing range was also on display, as he initiated attacks with precision from deep.

Midfielders

Jens Stage - 9.0: Simply sensational. Our Man of the Match, without a doubt. He scored a goal, provided an assist, and even rattled the woodwork. He was the engine of the team, driving forward with purpose and displaying an incredible range of passing. What stood out to us was his relentless energy and desire to influence the game at every opportunity.

Senne Lynen - 7.5: The quiet architect in midfield. Lynen was superb, controlling the tempo with a remarkable 95% pass completion rate. He did the dirty work that allowed players like Stage to shine, breaking up play and shielding the defense effectively. A disciplined and highly intelligent performance.

Cameron Puertas - 8.0: A creative spark throughout the game. Puertas delivered a pinpoint assist for Stage's goal and was a constant menace with his movement and passing. He created a big chance and his delivery from set-pieces was top-notch. From our perspective, he was a key reason Bremen's attack looked so fluid and dangerous.

Forwards

Keke Topp - 6.0: A frustrating afternoon for the young forward. He worked tirelessly but found it difficult to get into the game. He picked up a yellow card and was substituted at half-time, which felt like a reflection of his limited impact on the match. He'll have better days.

Marco Grüll - 8.0: Got the goal that sealed the victory, showing great composure in front of goal. He was a livewire, his direct running and trickery causing all sorts of problems for the Union defence. He looked dangerous every time he got the ball and fully deserved his goal. A very impressive showing.

Romano Schmid - 8.5: Another standout performer in a brilliant attacking display. He provided a clever assist for Grüll's goal and was at the heart of Bremen's best moves. His link-up play and vision were exceptional, creating two key chances for his teammates. He drifted into pockets of space and was a nightmare for defenders to track.

Substitutes

Julián Malatini - 6.5: Came on at halftime and helped solidify the defence. Looked composed.

Leonardo Bittencourt - 6.5: Added fresh energy and kept the pressure on the tired Union Berlin side.

Justin Njinmah - N/A: Not on long enough to make a significant impact.

Manager

D. Thioune - 8.0: His game plan was executed perfectly after the red card. He made the right changes at halftime to ensure his side remained in control. He will be thrilled with how his team ruthlessly exploited their advantage and showed a clinical edge to secure a massive win.

Union Berlin Player Ratings vs Werder Bremen

Here are the Union Berlin Player Ratings from the Union Berlin vs Werder Bremen Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Frederik Rönnow - 5.5: A thankless task for the keeper. He conceded four goals but was left completely exposed by his defence and the early red card. He could do little about any of the goals. He made one save, but otherwise, it was a day of watching the ball fly past him into the net.

Defenders

Danilho Doekhi - 5.0: It was a difficult day for the entire backline, and Doekhi was no exception. He struggled to cope with the movement and pace of Bremen's attackers. He looked uncertain in possession and was part of a defensive unit that completely crumbled under pressure.

Leopold Querfeld - 4.5: A torrid afternoon for the centre-back. From our perspective, he was bullied from start to finish, losing a staggering nine aerial duels. He was caught out of position multiple times, made an error leading to a shot, and received a yellow card. A performance he will want to forget immediately.

Stanley Nsoki - 5.0: He showed some intent to get forward but was ultimately found wanting defensively. He was dribbled past on a couple of occasions and struggled to contain the threat from his flank. His substitution was a mercy as he was having a really tough time.

Midfielders

Aljoscha Kemlein - 5.5: The game completely passed him by. In a match where his team desperately needed some control in midfield, Kemlein was anonymous. His passing was inaccurate, and he offered very little both in and out of possession before being subbed.

Rani Khedira - 6.0: The captain fought a losing battle. He tried to rally his troops and worked hard, winning a fair few of his duels. But he was fighting fires all over the pitch and was simply overwhelmed by Bremen's midfield superiority. A valiant effort in a hopeless situation.

András Schäfer - 4.0: The architect of his team's downfall. A moment of pure madness to get a straight red card just a minute after his team had taken the lead. What was he thinking? It was an act of shocking indiscipline that left his teammates to face an impossible task.

Janik Haberer - 5.5: Like many of his teammates, he was a passenger for large parts of the game. He chased shadows as Bremen's midfield passed the ball around him with ease. He couldn't get a foothold in the match and was unable to provide any defensive cover or creative spark.

Derrick Köhn - 7.0: One of the only Union players who can hold his head high. He showed great composure to step up and score the penalty to give his side the lead. He continued to work hard and tried to make things happen, but he was fighting a lone battle against a tide of Bremen attacks.

Forwards

Ilyas Ansah - 6.5: He did brilliantly to win the penalty, showing a great burst of pace and clever movement. That was the high point of his game. After the red card, he became increasingly isolated and was unable to make any further impact before being substituted.

Andrej Ilic - 6.0: He won an impressive number of aerial duels, which shows he was physically competitive. However, he offered next to nothing in terms of a goal threat. He was a static focal point that Bremen's defence handled with ease.

Substitutes

Woo-yeong Jeong - 6.0: Brought on to add some energy but struggled to make an impact on the game.

Tim Skarke - 6.0: Had a few blocked shots but couldn't change the course of the match.

Oliver Burke - N/A: Came on late and had little time to influence proceedings.

Manager

S. Baumgart - 5.0: His initial game plan looked to be working when his team went 1-0 up. However, it was completely undone by Schäfer's red card. His team looked disorganized and devoid of ideas once they went down to 10 men. A nightmare day on the touchline for the manager.

Man of the Match

Jens Stage was our man of the match from this Bundesliga fixture.

Worst Performer

András Schäfer was the worst of the lot in the Union Berlin vs Werder Bremen game.