RB Leipzig's promising start to the Bundesliga season came to an abrupt end this afternoon, as Martín Demichelis' side suffered a 3-1 defeat away to Werder Bremen.

After opening the campaign with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach, Leipzig arrived at the Weserstadion with momentum behind them. Instead, they were exposed by a Werder side that had entered the afternoon looking for a response after their heavy 4-1 defeat at Freiburg on the opening weekend.

The warning came almost immediately.

Eren Dinkçi put Werder ahead after just four minutes, giving the hosts the perfect start and forcing Leipzig into a game they had not expected to play. The visitors struggled to impose the same control and attacking rhythm that had been so evident against Gladbach, while Werder grew in confidence as the afternoon progressed.

For Demichelis, it was a particularly frustrating result because Die Roten Bullen had looked so convincing just a week earlier. Their pressing was less effective, their attacking combinations lacked the same sharpness, and they found themselves chasing the game for long periods.

The second half brought no immediate turnaround.

Instead, Werder found the decisive breakthrough through the returning club legend, Niclas Füllkrug, in the 68th minute. The striker, back in Bremen this summer, doubled the hosts' advantage and put Leipzig in serious trouble.

Marco Grüll then made the result even more emphatic less than 15 minutes later, putting Werder 3-0 ahead and effectively ending Leipzig's hopes of rescuing the game.

Ridle Baku's goal deep into stoppage time offered Leipzig little more than consolation.

The defeat also provides an early reminder that Demichelis is still working with a team in transition. Leipzig have made significant changes to their squad during the summer and brought in several players expected to play important roles, including Christopher Nkunku and Moroccan international Neil El Aynaoui. Building consistency will inevitably take time, but the performance in Bremen highlighted how quickly the level can drop when Leipzig fail to control matches from the start.

There were also familiar concerns in attack. RBL had produced three goals and a dominant display against Gladbach, but against Werder they struggled to create the same sustained pressure. The absence of a breakthrough for much of the afternoon left them vulnerable to a Bremen side that became increasingly comfortable defending their lead.

For Werder, meanwhile, the victory could hardly have been more important.

After conceding four goals at Freiburg, Daniel Thioune's team responded with a disciplined and aggressive performance against one of the Bundesliga's Champions League representatives.

For the Red Bulls, the opening victory suggested Demichelis had quickly found the right formula. Bremen showed that the new Leipzig side still has plenty to prove before that conclusion can be drawn.

Their next test will come against Cesc Fàbregas' Como away in Italy. The Serie A side currently sit top of the table, making the trip an immediate test of whether Leipzig can respond to their disappointing afternoon in Bremen.