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

Issa Traoré
Bayer 04 - 06.07.2026

Bayer 04 loan defender Traoré to Slovakian top-flight side AS Trencin

Issa Traoré is moving from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Slovakian top-flight side AS Trencin. The club has loaned the centre-back out for one year to this year’s ninth-placed team in the Slovakian league.

Show more
Remzi Kahraman
Women - 05.07.2026

Women: Assistant coach Remzi Kahraman leaves Bayer 04

Assistant coach Remzi Kahraman is leaving the Bayer 04 Women’s team with immediate effect to take up a new challenge abroad. The club has agreed to the 31-year-old’s request to leave, although his contract was originally due to run until 2027. A decision on his successor will be announced shortly.

Show more
Quelle: DFB/dpa Picture-Alliance
Youth - 05.07.2026

U19 European Championship in Wales: Culbreath and Onyeka sit out Spain clash – semi up next

At the U19 European Championship in Wales, the Germany U19 national team lost their third and final group match 4-0 to Spain. Several regulars, including Bayer 04 players Montrell Culbreath and Francis Onyeka (on loan to SV Elversberg), who had combined for four goals and assists in the two previous victories, did not feature,. Germany had already secured their place in the semi-finals with a game to spare.

Show more
Torjubel der Werkself
Women - 04.07.2026

Two debut goals: Women win first pre-season friendly against Mainz

Two weeks into the preseason, the Bayer 04 Women have secured their first victory. Coach Roberto Pätzold’s team won their first friendly 2–0 against Bundesliga newcomers Mainz 05. In front of 160 spectators at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, the two summer signings, Maja Sternad (80’) and Justine Brandau (90’), scored for the Black and Reds.

Show more