Werder Bremen dismantles Gladbach: 4-0 win at the start of the season!

Werder Bremen dismantles Gladbach: 4-0 win at the start of the season!

On September 17, 2025, Werder Bremen celebrated an impressive 4-0 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach, sending a clear signal at the start of the season - or rather, at the "start of the season after the start of the season", as the fans call it. Coach Horst Steffen, who was only recently brought on board, struggled to bring his ideas onto the pitch in the first few days of the game. But things finally went smoothly against Gladbach. The Bremen offensive harmonized splendidly, despite the players still having little practice together.

The return of Jens Stage and Marco Friedl, who were back in the starting line-up after injuries, was particularly pleasing. In addition, loanee Cameron Puertas made his debut as a central playmaker, while Romano Schmid plowed the right side. Werder played in the tried and tested 4-2-3-1 formation. The two sixes, Lynen and Stage, held back in building up the game, which initially led to difficulties in integrating the attackers.

A game full of dynamics and opportunities

Although Gladbach had 55 percent possession of the ball and had 11 more shots on goal than Werder (6), the guests were unable to overcome the Bremen keeper. In the 15th minute it was Samuel Mbangula who scored the first goal, followed by another goal by Stage in the 26th minute. The superiority of the Bremen offensive became clear after halftime at the latest when Gladbach had to become more offensive. This opened up counterattack opportunities for Werder, which Bremen exploited coldly and increased the score to 4-0.

Steffen, who previously worked for the small but successful club SV Elversberg and developed a proven strategy as a coach, has already got the team well-coordinated. He was previously active as a player in the Bundesliga before pursuing his career as a youth coach. With the belief that a clear playing philosophy and the development of young talent are crucial, he was hired to drive Werder's strategy forward. Steffen relies on a system based on a stable central axis with a goalkeeper, central defenders and central midfielders - a tactic that has proven to be advantageous, as the games under his direction show.

From theory to practice

The tactics in football, which are determined by coaches, depend on the abilities of the players and the structure of the team. This can ultimately be decisive in the game. In the current season you can see that Steffen is particularly focused on running freely on offense and therefore uses the attacks from the wings cleverly, while at the same time frequent changes of position are required. The collective tactics, which play a central role in the attack, have developed better under his leadership.

Statistical analyzes show that only 40 percent of games are won by the team that wins more duels. Steffen seems to have recognized this early on, because his strategy shows a high willingness to run, combined with ball security, as was impressively seen in the game against Gladbach. At Werder, the players often break through into open space, which poses major challenges for the opponent.

After the successful game, it remains to be seen how the team will perform in the coming weeks. The direction is right and the Bremen team is looking forward to the upcoming challenges in the Bundesliga.

For further details on Horst Steffen's tactical approaches and his development at Werder Bremen read [Deichstube]. Analysis](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/head-coach-analysis/horst-steffen-werder-bremen-tactics-2025-2026-tactical-analysis).