Leipzig slip up with 1-1 draw at Werder in last game of the year

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Werder Bremen vs. RB Leipzig - Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Werder Bremen vs. RB Leipzig, 12/19/2023

Updated: Dec 19, 2023, 07:50 pm

RB Leipzig stumbled to a 1-1 draw at Werder Bremen in their last Bundesliga game of the year on Tuesday, leaving them provisionally third as the league goes into a winter break later this week.

After hitting the woodwork early in the game through Castello Lukeba, Leipzig, with captain Emil Forsberg playing his last game before moving to the MLS' New York Red Bulls in January, went in front when Lois Openda struck two minutes into the second half.

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The Belgium international needed three consecutive efforts to beat Werder keeper Michael Zetterer who blocked his first two shots before he stabbed the ball in for his 11th goal of the campaign.

Emil Forsberg was making his final appearance for Leipzig before joining the New York Red Bulls.
FOCKE STRANGMANN/AFP via Getty Images

Werder also hit the crossbar through Marvin Duksch in the 56th minute before Zetterer, outstanding throughout, came to the rescue once more, denying Openda in a one-on-one as he attempted to round the keeper.

The hosts grabbed the equaliser in the 75th with a sensational 20-metre strike from Justin Njinmah.

Leipzig, who take on Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 in February, are third on 33 points, two ahead of fourth-placed VfB Stuttgart, who are in action against Augsburg on Wednesday. The league will then break until Jan. 12.