32 years ago: 3-0 defeat at Espanyol

Bayer 04 fans are very happy to recall winning the UEFA Cup in 1988. Memories of the first leg are anythung but positive. The Werkself were away at Espanyol on 4 May 1988. The team led by head coach Erich Ribbeck went into the first match of the final in confident mood after 14 games unbeaten on the European stage – but the journey home was a quiet affair after a clear and extremely disappointing 3-0 defeat at the Estadio de Sarrià.

Following victory in the semi-final against Werder Bremen, the future champions of Germany, there was much confidence at Bayer 04 both amongst the fans as wellas the players and coaches. Espanyol were impressive en route to the final, knocking out Borussia Mönchengladbach and FC Brugge as well as the two Italian heavyweights AC and Inter Milan.

It was looking good in Barcelona for much of the game. The Black and Reds appeared to be in control of the game much to the joy of the 2,000 travelling fans but there was no penetration to the opposition goal. Considering that Thomas Hörster and Christian Schreier were injured and Erich Seckler was suspended and Bum-kun Cha went off injured after 18 minutes, it was all going well for Leverkusen...

Vollborn, Ribbeck And Co. iN Video

The remaining course of the final first leg is available in the highlights video from Bayer 04 TV. Here, the former Werkself players Rüdiger Vollborn, Falko Götz, Wolfgang Rolff and head coach Erich Ribbeck recall the clash.

A detailed article on the 30^th anniversary from 2018 is available HERE.

Match stats:

Espanyol: N'Kono – Gallart – Job, Miguel Angel – Orejuela (Golobart 66’), Inaki, Urkiaga, Soler – Valverde, Pichi Alonso (Lauridsen 69’), Losada

Bayer 04: Vollborn – Rolff – De Keyser, A. Reinhardt, Hinterberger – Cha (Götz 18’), Tita, Buncol, Falkenmayer (K. Reinhardt 75’) – Waas, Täuber

Goals: 1-0 Losada (44’), 2-0 Soler (49’), 3-0 Losada (57’)

Referee: Krchnak (Czechoslovakia)

Booked: Täuber

Attendance: 42,000 at the Estadi Sarrià (Barcelona)