Back
18.05.2020Bayer 04

32 years ago today: Werkself win the UEFA Cup

Leverkusen, 18 May 1988, after 23.00 CET – a city in a transport of delight and an absolutely exceptional situation: From a position of being almost unknown in Europe at the time, the Werkself stormed onto the stage of football to win the UEFA Cup against Espanyol with a memorable performance in the second leg that included a penalty shootout.

It looked like a lost cause after the 3-0 defeat in the first leg in Barcelona. And yet, hope and promise lay in the Leverkusen air on the evening of 18 May 1988. The crowd were waving flags with 18,000 Bayer 04 fans amongst the 22,000 at the Haberland Stadium, that was being redeveloped, singing loud in hope of creating a sensation. The West Stand was a skeleton with a couple of hundred temporary seats installed at short notice to cater for the club staff and journalists. What followed was a performance by the Werkself that has not lost any of its drama and emotion after 32 years. Bayer 04 TV brought highlights of the second leg of the 1988 UEFA Cup final...

Anniversary party at the BayArena

30 years later there was a big anniversary celebration at the 1904 Lounge at the BayArena: The UEFA Cup heroes of 1988 were clearly full of joy at that reunion.

Match information:

Bayer 04: Vollborn – Rolff – Seckler, A. Reinhardt – Schreier (Waas 46’), Cha, Buncol, Falkenmayer, K. Reinhardt – Götz, Tita (Täuber 62’)

Espanyol: N'Kono – Miguel Angel – Job, Gallard, Urkiaga – Orejuela (Zubillaga 67’), Inaki, Golobart (Zuniga 73’), Soler – Alonso, Losada

Goals: 1-0 Tita (58’), 2-0 Götz (63’), 3-0 Cha (81’)

Penalty shootout: Rolff, Waas and Täuber scored for Bayer 04, Alonso and Job for Espanyol

Referee: Keizer (Netherlands)

Booked: A. Reinhardt, K. Reinhardt – Miguel Angel, Zubillaga

Attendance: 22,000 (sold out)

Related News

Fernando Carro
Social Commitment - 05.12.2025

Fernando Carro and Stefan Kießling at the Day of Volunteering in the BayArena

As part of the joint commitment of Bayer 04 and the City of Leverkusen to volunteering, the annual Volunteer Day took place in the 19nullvier Lounge at the BayArena. Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, Stefan Hebbel, Mayor of the City of Leverkusen, and club representative Stefan Kießling praised the commitment of the 200 or so volunteers from the region in attendance and thanked them for their impressive efforts.

Show more
Cornelia Kramer zurück im Training
Women - 04.12.2025

Kramer and Repohl set to return to squad: Women host RB Leipzig

After three defeats in a row, the Bayer 04 Women are aiming to get back on track against RB Leipzig. In the home game on Saturday (14:00 CET) at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium, coach Roberto Pätzold will probably be able to count on two key players recently sidelined due to injury.

Show more
Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga
Women - 04.12.2025

Women's Bundesliga: 14 top-flight clubs form FBL e.V.

The clubs in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga will set up the Frauen-Bundesliga FBL e.V. On 10 December. The clubs have joined together to open a new chapter in the history of German women's football.

Show more
Ulf Kirsten
Bayer 04 - 04.12.2025

Goals for eternity: Ulf Kirsten turns 60

In his 13 years as a professional player at Bayer 04, the honorary captain and record goalscorer made 446 appearances scoring 238 goals along the way. Many of them remain unforgotten, including his header to win the DFB Pokal in 1993. Ulf Kirsten celebrates his 60th birthday today Thursday - and Bayer 04 are happy to take this opportunity to look back on some of the former number nine’s special goals and games. But first of all: Happy Birthday, dear Ulf!

Show more