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)

sky_comeback_300x250.jpg

Related News

Edmond Tapsoba, Jonas Hofmann und Co. nach Abpfiff
Bundesliga - 26.10.2026

Werkself review: ‘It wasn’t our best day’

It has been a long time since feeling what it’s like to come away empty-handed. The last – and so far only – defeat of the season, in Elversberg, was two months ago. Since then, Bayer 04 have followed that up with seven wins and a draw. Now it has happened again away to TSG Hoffenheim. As the match progressed, the Werkself grew in confidence and “could even have scored the opening goal”, as Robert Andrich said after the game. In the end, it was the side from Sinsheim who sealed a 3–0 victory after “hectic closing stages” (kicker). The Werkself review.

Show more
Women: TV-highlights of 0-2 loss at Nürnberg | 8th matchday
Werkself-TV - 25.10.2026

Women: TV-highlights of 0-2 loss at Nürnberg

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04 Women's 0-2 loss at 1. FC Nürnberg on Matchday 8 of the 2026/27 Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga.

Show more
TV highlights of 0-3 loss at TSG Hoffenheim | 7th matchday
Werkself-TV - 25.10.2026

TV highlights of 0-3 loss at TSG Hoffenheim

Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 0-3 loss at TSG Hoffenheim on Matchday 7 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season...

Show more
Loreen Bender am Boden
Women - 25.10.2026

Setback in Nuremberg: Bayer 04 women suffer first away defeat

After nine points from their first three away matches of the 2026/27 season, the Bayer 04 Women suffered their first away defeat on Sunday afternoon. The 2-0 defeat away to FC Nürnberg, who were winless before today, represented a setback for coach Roberto Pätzold’s team in the race for the top spots in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga. Fany Pronietz scored both goals (62’, 85’) for the home side.

Show more