Felix Agu marks injury comeback as Werder Bremen beat VfL Bochum in Austria friendly

Felix Agu made a successful return from injury as Werder Bremen rounded off their training camp with a 2-0 pre-season win over VfL Bochum at the Parkstadion in Zell am Ziller.

The Nigeria defender started on the left flank for the Bundesliga side on Saturday, featuring for the first time since recovering from muscular problems that had ruled him out of Werder’s earlier pre-season work.

Agu, 26, had been restricted to individual sessions in the days before the game but was passed fit to join full training and was immediately restored to the starting XI for the friendly.

Erevbenagie opens scoring before the break

Werder Bremen went in front three minutes before half-time when Erevbenagie capitalised on precise build-up play.

The forward raced onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Olivier Deman, rounded Bochum goalkeeper Timo Horn and slotted into the bottom corner to give Werder a deserved 1-0 lead heading into the interval.

The goal reflected Bremen’s control for much of the first half, with their sharper attacking play rewarded shortly before the whistle.

Agu in the thick of a physical contest

Agu’s comeback proved a demanding one as he was frequently targeted with strong challenges down the left-hand side.

The Super Eagles international became involved in several heated exchanges with Bochum players as the contest grew more physical after the break.

Shortly after half-time, Agu was booked following an altercation that also resulted in yellow cards for Alessandro Crimaldi and former Werder Bremen player Manuel Mbom.

Despite the intensity of the game, Agu showed no obvious ill effects from his recent injury during his time on the pitch.

Head coach Daniel Thioune opted to manage the full-back’s minutes carefully, replacing him in the 48th minute as part of a double substitution designed to protect his fitness and gradually build up his workload.

Musah seals win from the spot

Werder Bremen secured the victory 20 minutes from time when Salim Musah both won and converted a penalty.

Musah was brought down inside the area and then stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick, sending Horn the wrong way to make it 2-0 and effectively settle the match.

The second goal underlined Bremen’s superiority and allowed Thioune’s side to see out the closing stages without major alarm.

Positive end to Austria camp for Werder

The win over VfL Bochum concluded Werder Bremen’s training camp in Austria on a positive note, combining a clean sheet with valuable minutes for a number of players.

Most significantly, Agu’s successful return added a further boost as the club continue their build-up to the 2026/27 Bundesliga season, with the defender now back in contention following his spell on the sidelines.