PREVIEW-Soccer-Germany success boosts Leipzig's bid to bounce back against Werder

Second-placed RB Leipzig are hoping to bounce back from their loss to Hoffenheim with a home win over Werder Bremen on Sunday, with Germany's successful World Cup qualification earlier this week providing a shot of confidence.

Second-placed RB Leipzig are hoping to bounce back from their loss to Hoffenheim with a home win over Werder Bremen on Sunday, with Germany's successful World Cup qualification earlier this week providing a shot of confidence. Germany, with three RB players in the squad, crushed Slovakia 6-0 in their final qualifier on Monday in Leipzig to secure their 2026 World Cup ticket as winners of Group A.

David Raum was a starter, while second-half substitutes Ridle Baku and 19-year-old Assan Ouedraogo scored a goal each. Teenager Ouedraogo also became the youngest player to score for Germany on his debut. "Every good result helps. Winning is beneficial to us," said Leipzig's director for sport Marcel Schaefer. "It was a fantastic night for German football and for RB Leipzig."

Schaefer also had special praise for Ouedraogo, a Schalke 04 youth player, who joined Leipzig last year. "You could see it on the very first day of training. We didn't expect him to make such a big impact so quickly, which makes it even more pleasing," he said.

Schaefer will need Ouedraogo in top form if they are to bounce back from their 3-1 loss to Hoffenheim, with Werder unbeaten in the league since September and having won three and drawn two of their last five matches. "Just one good half is never enough in football," Schaefer said. "We showed promising attacking moments in Hoffenheim, but defensively we weren't as consistent as we needed to be. We want to win. Our home record has been very good, and we've put in strong performances here. We want to build on that."

The pressure is on with Leipzig, unbeaten at home this season, in second place in the Bundesliga. On 22 points, they are six behind leaders Bayern Munich but only marginally ahead of a quartet of teams. Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart are a point behind in third and fourth respectively, with Bayer Leverkusen fifth on 20 and Hoffenheim in sixth on 19 points.

Champions Bayern, who had a winning start of 16 consecutive wins across all competitions, dropped points for the first time this season when they drew 2-2 at Union Berlin on the previous matchday, and will be looking to make amends when they host Freiburg on Saturday. Dortmund entertain Stuttgart, also on Saturday, with third spot up for grabs, while Leverkusen travel to VfL Wolfsburg.

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