Bundesliga 2019/20: Werder Bremen vs Schalke 04

Werder Bremen, attempting to build momentum off of their recent 0-0 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach, took on Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Both clubs were desperately in need of a win: Schalke were looking to avoid their fourth straight defeat and Werder are still locked in a relegation battle at the moment. Ultimately, Werder were able to earn all three points after taking advantage of an unorganised Schalke, earning themselves a 1-0 win.

This tactical analysis will examine the tactics that both managers used in their matchup. The analysis will explore the advantages both teams tried to build, and how Werder was ultimately more successful at doing so throughout the match.

Lineups

David Wagner sent Schalke out in a 5-4-1 formation with Alexander Nübel in goal. Juan Miranda and Jonjoe Kenny were the outside-backs, with Jean-Clair Todibo, Salif Sané, and Ozan Muhammed Kabak playing as the central defenders. The four men in front of them consisted of Daniel Caligiuri, Alessandro Schöpf, Weston McKennie, and Rabbi Matondo, with Caligiuri and Matondo playing on the wings. Michael Gregoritsch functioned as the lone striker on the day.

Florian Kohfeldt sent Werder out in a 4-3-1-2, with Jiří Pavlenka in goal. Niklas Moisander and Sebastian Langkamp were the centre-backs with Theodor Gebre Selassie as the right-back and Marco Friedl as the left-back. The three men in front of them consisted of Maximilian Eggestein, Kevin Vogt and Davy Klaassen, with Vogt in the more central role. Leonardo Bittencourt was behind the two strikers, Milot Rashica and Josh Sargent.