1.02.2023Werkself-TV

Matches of the month (06.02.2018): Bellarabi Winner in extra time

15 years later, on 6 February 2018, a quarter-final against Werder Bremen at the BayArena. The Werkself play the North German team for the seventh time in this competition – and the team from Bremen have always come out on top, most recently two years before with a convincing 3-1 win in Leverkusen. It looked like the same old story after ten minutes: the team from the Hanseatic city lead 2-0 with goals from Kruse and Johannsson and the Bayer 04 fans are already forgetting the dream of a title.

Display videos

Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.

But the Werkself fight back and pull a goal back on 31 minutes through Julian Brandt. When the same player equalises on 55 minutes, the BayArena goes wild. The tie now develops into an exciting cup quarter-final with chances at both ends but at 90 minutes the score is still 2-2. In the second half of extra time, coach Heiko Herrlich brings on Karim Bellarabi in place of Dominik Kohr. The roof comes off the BayArena three minutes later when Bellarabi scores from an almost impossible angle to make it 3-2 on 111 minutes.

In that minute there is one of my favourite photos from the history of Bayer 04 – the already substituted but now completely euphoric Julian Brandt expressing his joy with a jump of the century. When Kai Havertz seals the win five minutes later, the hope of going to Berlin is palpable throughout the whole stadium. However, the dream unfortunately does not come true due to a heavy 6-2 home defeat against Bayern Munich.

Related News

Bundesliga - 22.02.2026

Werkself review #FCUB04: Huge effort goes unrewarded

After a run of seven games unbeaten in all competitions, the Werkself suffered a 1-0 defeat at FC Union Berlin despite their best efforts. Captain Robert Andrich, who took responsibility for the goal, said after the match: "Now we have to focus on not losing our heads even in difficult situations. That has always made us strong in the past." The Werkself review.

Bundesliga - 21.02.2026

Werkself beaten 1-0 at Union Berlin

Bayer 04 were beaten 1-0 away at Union Berlin on Matchday 23 in the Bundesliga. Kasper Hjulmand’s side struggled to create clear chances, while the hosts struck the only goal of the game through Rani Khedira in the 28th minute.

Bundesliga - 21.02.2026

Matchday news #FCUB04: Continue unbeaten run at set-piece specialists Union Berlin

Sandwiched between their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off tie against Olympiacos, Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action on Saturday with a trip to Union Berlin (kick-off: 15:30 CET). It’s a fixture of contrasting styles, with Leverkusen preferring to control the play while Union look to remain compact and counter. The Berliners are therefore suited to facing top teams, but they have only ever managed to win one of 16 meetings with the Werkself, who are looking for a fifth clean sheet of 2026 but will need to beware the home side’s threat from set pieces. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.

Die PK vor dem Auswärtsspiel beim 1. FC Union Berlin | 23. Spieltag

Werkself-TV - 20.02.2026

Hjulmand ahead of #FCUB04: ‘We are not naive and will be alert’

After six wins in seven games, the Werkself will be looking to continue their winning run in the capital at FC Union Berlin. Coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke ahead of the match on Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET) about defenders, the short preparation time and the condition of the pitch at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.