Back
4.05.2020Bayer 04

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 30th 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)

 

sky_2004_movie_300x250.jpg

Related News

Jonah Berghoff in der UEFA Youth League
U19 - 24.11.2025

Youth League clash at Manchester City: 'Big challenge we want to tackle in the best possible way'

Will the Bayer 04 U19s take the next step towards their first appearance in the knockout stage of the UEFA Youth League in the away game at Manchester City? Coach Kevin Brok is well aware of this historic opportunity, but he's not about to start worrying about the maths: "We're not concerned with the question of what might be good enough. We invest everything we can and always aim for the maximum. That's our way." The game on this penultimate Matchday 5 of the league phase takes place on Tuesday, 25 November (kick-off: 16:00 CET) at the Manchester City Academy Stadium. Werkself TV will be broadcasting the whole match exclusively for Bayer 04 club members live from 15:50 CET....

Show more
U19 von Bayer 04 spendet mit UEFA an die Tafel Leverkusen
Social Commitment - 23.11.2025

Donation of cash and food: U19s support Leverkusen food bank

€1,000 and food for a good cause: In keeping with the long-standing cooperation between Bayer 04 and the Tafel Leverkusen e.V. food bank, the U19s are also supporting the charitable organisation in the region. In addition to the generous cheque the team were able to donate to an organisation of their choice as a result of their participation in the UEFA Youth League, coach Kevin Brok's lads donated €500 worth of food - financed by their own team kitty. Ferdinand Pohl, Jesper Schlich and Co. also actively helped to stow the food in the Tafel's premises.

Show more
Great first half display by Werkself in Wolfsburg | 11th matchday
Werkself-TV - 22.11.2025

TV highlights of 3-1 win at VfL Wolfsburg

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 3-1 win at VfL Wolfsburg on the 11th matchday of the Bundesliga 2025/26...

Show more
Women lose to SGS Essen at home | 11th matchday
Werkself-TV - 22.11.2025

Women: TV highlights of 0-1 loss against SGS Essen

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 0-1 loss against SGS Essen on the 11th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.

Show more
Selina Ostermeier von den Bayer 04-Frauen
Women - 22.11.2025

Battling display but out of luck: Women lose at home to SGS Essen

An unfortunate end to a hard-fought game from Bayer 04's point of view: The Bayer 04 Women worked hard against bottom-of-the-table SGS Essen, but lacked penetration in attack for long periods of the game. The goal scored by Essen's Natasha Kowalski (58'), that saw the otherwise flawless goalkeeper Anne Moll unfortunately slip, was enough to inflict a third consecutive defeat on Roberto Pätzold's team.

Show more