Back
20.05.2020Bayer 04

20 years ago: The drama of Unterhaching

Bayer 04 went into matchday 34 in the 1999/00 season as league leaders. One point would have been enough for the team under head coach Christoph Daum at newcomers SpVgg Unterhaching to secure the first Bundesliga title in the club’s history. Instead, the Werkself lost 2-0 at the team in tenth place on 20 May 2000 and Bayern Munich finished top of the league.

The team, staff and fans set off for the last game of the season with a three-point lead. The destination was Unterhaching’s Sportpark ground just outside Munich. The situation appeared to be straightforward: The hosts had secured their top-flight status early and were probably not likely to present many problems as a newly promoted club.

Second-placed FC Bayern did have a better goal difference than Leverkusen but were three points adrift ahead of their home game against Werder Bremen at the Olympic Stadium in Munich. Above all, Bayer 04 knew it was all in their own hands while the rivals were relying on a favour from their neighbours. 

Bayer 04 TV looks back 20 years later with Christoph Daum, Ulf Kirsten and Michael Ballack at the successful season and the last match at Unterhaching…

 

imago0005325252h.jpg
sky_comeback_300x250.jpg

Related News

Alejo Sarco
Bayer 04 - 20.01.2026

Bayer 04 loan striker Sarco to Borussia Mönchengladbach

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have agreed a loan deal with Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach for Argentinian striker Alejo Sarco. The 20-year-old joins Mönchengladbach with immediate effect for the rest of the season.

Show more
Trio
Champions League - 19.01.2026

Our next opponents: Olympiacos will have to make do without overhead kick star

After their first win on matchday 6 in the UCL league phase, Olympiacos are still in with a good chance of reaching the play-offs in the UEFA Champions League. The 2024 UEFA Conference League winners will be looking to go one better in their home match against Bayer 04 this Tuesday, 20 January (kick-off: 21:00 CET), but their stop scorer is unavailable. The lowdown on our next opponents.

Show more
Panagiotis Retsos
Champions League - 19.01.2026

‘I was very happy in Leverkusen’: 04 questions for former Werkself player and Olympiacos captain Panagiotis Retsos

Panagiotis, known as Panos, Retsos wore the Bayer 04 jersey for three years. Including his loan spells, he was under contract with the Werkself for a total of four and a half years. "It's a very special club for me," said the 27-year-old, who returned to his boyhood club Olympiacos in 2022, in an interview with bayer04.de. The former Leverkusen man is now captain and a first choice for the Werkself's next opponents in the UEFA Champions League. Ahead of the clash on Tuesday night, 20 January (kick-off: 21:00 CET), Retsos talks about his fond memories of his time in Leverkusen and the imminent reunion with some of his former team-mates. He also talks about who brought him to Leverkusen and why he likes getting older.

Show more
crop_imago1071437261.jpg
Bayer 04 - 18.01.2026

AFCON blog: Senegal win the tournament

Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...

Show more
Mark Flekken
Bayer 04 - 18.01.2026

Flekken and Tella out injured

Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without goalkeeper Mark Flekken and forward Nathan Tella for the time being.

Show more