STUTTGART, Germany (Interstat) — Ermedin Demirović scored a second-half equalizer as Stuttgart played to a 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen in a Bundesliga season opener Sunday at MHPArena.

Jens Stage put Werder Bremen ahead with a goal in the 18th minute, but Demirović pulled Stuttgart level in the 61st minute. Mio Backhaus, who entered as a substitute for Werder Bremen, provided an assist and later received a yellow card in the 78th minute. Both teams finished with one goal apiece, leaving each side with a record of no wins, no losses and one draw in Bundesliga play and across all competitions.

The match unfolded with early pressure from the visitors. Werder Bremen controlled possession in the opening quarter-hour and capitalized when Stage, also a substitute, finished a chance from close range. The goal came after a buildup that caught the Stuttgart defense off balance. Stage’s strike marked the first goal of the 2026 Bundesliga campaign for Werder Bremen.

Stuttgart responded by tightening its midfield and pushing forward through Demirović. The forward created several chances before finding the net in the 61st minute. Demirović collected a pass in the box, turned and fired past the Werder Bremen goalkeeper to level the score. The goal was his first of the season and gave Stuttgart a foothold in the contest.

The game remained even for the final half-hour. Both sides generated half-chances but failed to break the deadlock. Backhaus, who had entered the match earlier, picked up a yellow card for a late challenge in the 78th minute. No further cautions were issued, and the match ended with neither team able to seize a winner.

Defensively, Stuttgart limited Werder Bremen to few clear opportunities after the opening goal. Werder Bremen’s back line also held firm after Demirović’s equalizer. The draw reflected the balanced nature of the contest, with each side registering a similar number of shots and periods of sustained possession.

Individually, Demirović stood out for Stuttgart with his goal and his work rate in the final third. For Werder Bremen, Stage provided an impactful performance off the bench, scoring the opening goal and influencing the game’s early tempo. Backhaus contributed an assist before his caution.

The result left both teams with identical records heading into the second week of the season. Stuttgart will aim to build on its home performance, while Werder Bremen will look to convert its early advantage into a victory in its next fixture.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Werder Bremen 2, Stuttgart 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Stuttgart with a 78.60 percent probability to win.