Werder Bremen Women and VfB Stuttgart (W) played out a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the German Frauen-Bundesliga on 22 September 2026, a result that left both teams with a valuable point and plenty to build on in the coming weeks.

The match at the Weserstadion was a tale of two halves, with Werder Bremen starting brightly and taking the lead before VfB Stuttgart responded after the break. Neither side could find a winner in the closing stages, despite late pressure at both ends.

Match Overview

Werder Bremen came into the game looking to assert themselves on home soil, and they did exactly that in the opening 25 minutes. The hosts pressed high, forced turnovers in midfield, and created the first clear chance when a whipped cross from the right was headed just over the bar.

The breakthrough arrived in the 31st minute. Werder won a corner on the left, and captain Michelle Ulbrich rose highest at the near post to glance a header into the far corner. It was a well-worked set piece and a deserved lead for the home side.

VfB Stuttgart responded well before half-time, with Jana Beuschlein testing the Werder goalkeeper from distance, but the visitors went into the break trailing by a single goal.

Key Moments

• 31' – Werder Bremen 1-0: Michelle Ulbrich heads home from a corner to give the hosts the lead.
• 58' – Werder Bremen 1-1: VfB Stuttgart equalise through Julia Sattler, who finishes calmly after a quick counter-attack.
• 74' – Chance for Werder: Nina Lührßen curls a shot just wide of the far post after a neat exchange on the edge of the box.
• 88' – Late Stuttgart pressure: A goalmouth scramble ends with the Werder defence clearing the ball off the line.

Tactical Story

Werder Bremen lined up in a compact 4-2-3-1 and looked to use the width of the pitch, with their full-backs pushing high to support the attack. Their pressing in the first half was effective, forcing Stuttgart into several hurried clearances.

After the interval, VfB Stuttgart adjusted their shape and began to find more space between the lines. Their equaliser came from a swift transition, catching Werder short at the back. From that point on, the game became more open, with both teams trading chances.

Werder's coach responded with substitutions to add fresh legs in midfield, while Stuttgart pushed for a winner but found the home defence stubborn in the final minutes.

Standout Players

Michelle Ulbrich was a commanding presence at the heart of the Werder defence, not only scoring the opening goal but also making several important clearances. Nina Lührßen was lively throughout, linking play and creating problems with her dribbling.

For VfB Stuttgart, Julia Sattler took her goal well and was a constant threat on the break. Goalkeeper Lena Hoffmann made two smart saves to keep the score level, including a late stop from a close-range effort.

Table and Season Impact

The draw keeps both teams in the mid-table cluster of the Frauen-Bundesliga, with Werder Bremen showing signs of progress under their current coach. VfB Stuttgart, meanwhile, will take confidence from a solid away performance against a direct rival.

With the season still young, both sides will view this as a point gained rather than two dropped. Werder Bremen will look to turn home draws into wins, while Stuttgart will aim to build on their second-half display in the next round of fixtures.