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

TopTorOktober2026_AndrichDiaby.jpg
Bundesliga - 03.11.2026

Goal of the Month for October 2026: Andrich’s thunderous volley and Diaby’s curler shortlisted

The Bundesliga has announced the nominees for the ‘Top Goal of the Month’ award for October. Fans of the Werkself can now vote for, amongst others, Robert Andrich’s stunning volley from the match against Mainz 05 or Moussa Diaby’s curling shot into the top corner from the same fixture. Voting, exclusively on the Bundesliga app, remains open until Sunday, 8 November (23:59 CET).

Show more
Ticket-Infos
Bundesliga - 02.11.2026

Tickets for the home match against Borussia Mönchengladbach

Bayer 04 host Borussia Mönchengladbach at the BayArena on matchday 12 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season. The schedule for the game remains to be confirmed. The latest information on ticket sales.

Show more
Titelbild
Bundesliga - 02.11.2026

Tickets for the home match against Eintracht Frankfurt

Bayer 04 host Eintracht Frankfurt at the BayArena on matchday 14 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season. The schedule for the game remains to be confirmed. The latest information on ticket sales.

Show more
Frauen unterliegen im Pokal-Achtefinale in München | Achteflinale DFB-Pokal
Werkself-TV - 01.11.2026

Women: TV-highlights of 0-1 loss at FC Bayern

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04 Women's 0-1 loss at Bayern Munich in the round of 16 of the women's DFB-Pokal 2026/27

Show more
Werkself bedankt sich bei den Fans
Bundesliga - 01.11.2026

Werkself review: ‘We lacked the clinical edge’

“As far as mentality and determination are concerned, we have nothing to reproach ourselves for,” Robert Andrich said up after the first home defeat for the Werkself this term. In terms of their play, too, the Black and Reds put in a respectable performance for long stretches of this intense and physical match, outperforming VfB Stuttgart in most areas. It was only in terms of efficiency in front of goal that the Swabians had the edge over the Werkself. Head coach Carles Martínez wants to learn from this so that, in future, they can “win this sort of match too”. The Werkself review.

Show more