Draw in the Bundesliga
Bremen upsets Stuttgart in the race for the Champions League
Updated April 26, 2026 – 5:43 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
VfB Stuttgart missed the win against Bremen and therefore did not move away from Hoffenheim. Bremen, on the other hand, takes an important step towards staying in the league.
VfB Stuttgart and Werder Bremen drew 1-1 (0-1) in the Bundesliga on Sunday. After the North Germans took the lead through Jens Stage (18th), Ermedin Demirović equalized with a header in the second half (61st).
The point helps Bremen significantly more than VfB. Because the Hanseatic League jumps to twelfth place with the point and has a comfortable lead of six points with three games still to play. Stuttgart, on the other hand, is back in fourth place in the Champions League, but only because of a goal difference that is four goals better than TSG Hoffenheim. In the race for the premier class, things will be really exciting again in the final games.
The Bremen team, who had to do without the ailing captain Marco Friedl for a short time, were solid on defense and also kept the Swabians busy in attack. And put VfB under pressure with a 1-0 win.
After a throw-in, Werder shifted the game from the left to the right side. Stage initiated his goal with a one-two with Yukinari Sugawara and finished with a low shot into the left corner from around 15 meters. The midfielder only distinguished himself as a double goalscorer in the 3-1 win in the northern derby against Hamburger SV.
VfB then tried to make up for the deficit. However, Werder goalkeeper Mio Backhaus prevented a quick equalizer when he quickly directed a powerful header from Bilal El Khannouss over the crossbar. When Deniz Undav finished from the turn shortly before half-time, Backhaus did not have to intervene. The ball flew just past the post.
On the other hand, VfB loanee Jovan Milošević didn’t take advantage of Dan-Axel Zagadou slipping in the penalty area. The central defender was surprisingly back in the starting line-up for the first time since November 9, 2025 and his thigh injury. At half-time, Hoeneß corrected his line-up and replaced Zagadou with Ramon Hendriks.
