Bundesliga Gameweek 12
Werder Bremen 1 - 1 FT 1. FC Köln
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Futmetrix Verdict
52
FT
Sat, Sep 19
Brighton
3-0
Arsenal
⚡ Intensity
37
⚖️ Balance
17
🏆 Stakes
70
🎲 Upset
80
Brighton dismantle league leaders Arsenal.
Futmetrix Verdict
55
FT
Sun, Sep 20
Gamba Osaka
0-1
Vissel Kobe
⚡ Intensity
40
⚖️ Balance
20
🏆 Stakes
78
🎲 Upset
0
Erik breaks Gamba hearts at 90'
Futmetrix Verdict
100
FT
Sun, Sep 20
Machida Zelvia
2-4
Kashiwa Reysol
⚡ Intensity
100
⚖️ Balance
78
🏆 Stakes
100
🎲 Upset
12
Kashiwa Reysol conquer Machida in away thriller
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
↓ D. Heintz ↑R. van den Berg 12'
22' M. Friedl (J. Stage)
HT
↓ A. Castro-Montes ↑T. Krauss 46'
46' ↓ A. Pieper ↑N. Stark
↓ I. Johannesson ↑K. Lund 46'
56' Keke Topp
70' ↓ K. Topp ↑V. Boniface
↓ C. Ozkacar ↑L. Waldschmidt 74'
75' Niklas Stark
Jan Thielmann 75'
Eric Martel 78'
81' ↓ C. Puertas ↑S. Mbangula
↓ E. Martel ↑F. Kainz 82'
S. El Mala (K. Lund) 90'
90'+6 Niklas Stark
90'+6 Niklas Stark
Marius Bülter 90'+6
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Werder Bremen
Goalkeepers
Mio Backhaus 
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
2
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
Yukinari Sugawara
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Amos Pieper 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Marco Friedl 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Midfielders
Senne Lynen 
MAGNET
67
Activity
67
Activity
61
Passes
6
Duels
Jens Stage 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7.5
Rating
Cameron Puertas
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
Romano Schmid 
ARCHITECT
5
Key Passes
5
Key Passes
0
Assists
26%
Pass Acc
Marco Grüll
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
28%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Keke Topp
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
70
Entry
BENCH
Karl Hein 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Niklas Stark 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Red Card
Mistake
Red Card
Mistake
2
Fouls
6
Rating
Isaac Schmidt
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Leonardo Bittencourt
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Patrice Čović
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Skelly Alvero
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Samuel Mbangula
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Justin Njinmah
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Victor Boniface
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
1. FC Köln
Goalkeepers
Marvin Schwäbe
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Sebastian Sebulonsen 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Dominique Heintz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
12
Entry
Cenk Özkacar
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Midfielders
Jan Thielmann
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ísac Bergmann Jóhannesson
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Eric Martel
LATE SHIFT
8
Late Mins
8
Late Mins
82
Total Mins
82
Entry
Alessio Castro-Montes
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Forwards
Jakub Kamiński
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Marius Bülter
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Said El Mala 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
8.3
Rating
BENCH
Ron-Robert Zieler
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Jusuf Gazibegović
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kristoffer Lund 
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
45
Minutes
6.9
Rating
Rav van den Berg
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
78
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tom Krauß
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Denis Huseinbašić
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Florian Kainz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Linton Maina
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gian-Luca Waldschmidt
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/12/2026 | 1. FC Köln | 3 - 1 | Werder Bremen | Bundesliga | RheinEnergieStadion |
| 11/29/2025 | Werder Bremen | 1 - 1 | 1. FC Köln | Bundesliga | Weserstadion |
| 02/16/2024 | 1. FC Köln | 0 - 1 | Werder Bremen | Bundesliga | Cologne Stadium |
| 09/23/2023 | Werder Bremen | 2 - 1 | 1. FC Köln | Bundesliga | wohninvest WESERSTADION |
| 05/20/2023 | Werder Bremen | 1 - 1 | 1. FC Köln | Bundesliga | wohninvest WESERSTADION |
| 01/21/2023 | 1. FC Köln | 7 - 1 | Werder Bremen | Bundesliga | RheinEnergieStadion |
| 03/07/2021 | 1. FC Köln | 1 - 1 | Werder Bremen | Bundesliga | RheinEnergieStadion |
| 11/06/2020 | Werder Bremen | 1 - 1 | 1. FC Köln | Bundesliga | wohninvest WESERSTADION |
| 06/27/2020 | Werder Bremen | 6 - 1 | 1. FC Köln | Bundesliga | wohninvest WESERSTADION |
| 12/21/2019 | 1. FC Köln | 1 - 0 | Werder Bremen | Bundesliga | RheinEnergieStadion |
04/12/2026
11/29/2025
02/16/2024
09/23/2023
05/20/2023
01/21/2023
03/07/2021
11/06/2020
06/27/2020
12/21/2019
Werder Bremen Win
1. FC Köln Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 12 GD: +35
P: 12 GD: +9
P: 12 GD: +10
P: 12 GD: +11
P: 12 GD: +8
P: 12 GD: +4
P: 12 GD: +5
P: 12 GD: -1
P: 12 GD: -5
P: 12 GD: +1
P: 12 GD: -4
P: 12 GD: -3
P: 12 GD: -7
P: 14 GD: -9
P: 12 GD: -12
P: 12 GD: -17
P: 12 GD: -14
P: 12 GD: -12
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Werder Bremen
1. FC Köln
Werder Bremen
1. FC Köln
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Cologne Snatch Dramatic Draw as Stark Sees Red
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 66/100. A match defined by reversals at the Weser: Werder Bremen led through M. Friedl, only for Said El Mala to shock them with a 90th-minute equalizer—before Niklas Stark's late red card left the hosts in turmoil.
Friedl's Early Breakthrough and Topp's Heartbreak
Werder Bremen dominated the opening exchanges. Jens Stage orchestrated the play from midfield, and his assist found M. Friedl in the 22nd minute for a composed finish. The home side's intensity was relentless—17 shots fired across the match—yet Marvin Schwäbe's steady hands kept Cologne alive. Then came the hammer blow in the 56th minute: Keke Topp wheeled away in celebration, only for VAR to intervene and cancel the goal. The decision stung the Weser, robbing Werder of what would have been a decisive second.
El Mala Delivers the Sucker Punch
Cologne had been patient, probing, and in the 90th minute they struck with surgical precision. Substitute K. Lund burst down the flank and crossed for Said El Mala, who finished with ice-cold efficiency to make it 1-1. The upset factor was immense—the home crowd stunned into silence. But there was more drama: seconds later, Niklas Stark received a red card for a foul in the 90+6th minute. Werder Bremen faced the final moments with ten men, their numerical disadvantage a bitter punctuation to a match that had swung twice.
The Numbers Behind the Chaos
Werder controlled possession at 49% and strung together 400 accurate passes (84% accuracy), yet Cologne's clinical edge proved decisive. The visitors managed only 10 shots—two on target—but one found the net when it mattered most. Schwäbe's three saves kept Cologne in touching distance, while the balance of the match shifted twice: Friedl's opener, Topp's VAR-cancelled goal, and El Mala's equalizer created a narrative of momentum swings that defined this six-pointer.
Key Questions
How did Niklas Stark's red card impact the match?
Stark's 90+6th-minute dismissal came too late to alter the result but left Werder defending with ten men in injury time. A symbolic blow to the hosts' hopes.
How did VAR change this match?
VAR cancelled Keke Topp's 56th-minute goal, robbing Werder of a potential 2-0 lead. The intervention shifted intensity and momentum decisively toward Cologne.
Did Werder Bremen deserve the late equalizer?
Werder dominated (49% possession, 17 shots), but Cologne were ruthlessly efficient. El Mala's goal rewarded clinical finishing—a fair 1-1 reflecting both sides' contributions.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
Stage and El Mala battle for midfield supremacy in perfectly balanced affair
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 56/100. A mid-table encounter stripped of title-race intrigue, but blessed with rare competitive balance—two Bundesliga sides meeting as genuine equals.
The Setup
Werder Bremen hosts 1. FC Köln at Weserstadion in a fixture devoid of high Stakes but defined by exceptional Balance. Both clubs sit on 16 points—Bremen 11th, Cologne 8th—a separation so marginal it's almost meaningless. Recent Form oscillates: Bremen's DLWDW contrasts sharply with Cologne's DDLLW slump. This is rare Bundesliga territory: two evenly matched sides where neither holds a clear structural advantage.
Key Battle
Jens Stage versus Said El Mala—control the engine, control the match. Stage has three goals in five appearances (7.3 rating average) and orchestrates Bremen's attacking thrust. El Mala brings two goals and an assist across three outings—both are their team's creative lifeblood. Whoever wins the central duel dictates tempo.
Our Prediction
Bremen will press aggressively at home; Cologne will absorb and counter. Mio Backhaus has been exceptional in goal (5.4 saves per match), while Marvin Schwäbe's penalty save shows Cologne's defensive resolve. Expect a 1–1 draw or a narrow 2–1 home victory—a match of tactical substance rather than spectacle, where neither team surrenders but neither breaks through decisively.