4-2 against Liverpool – Anniversary of a ‘massive game’

The 2001/02 season was running like clockwork for the team coached by Klaus Toppmöller ahead of the clash with the team from the north-west of England: The Werkself were at the top of the Bundesliga at the time and were already through to the DFB Cup final. The Black and Reds then faced a particularly tough challenge in the Champions League quarter-finals: Bayer 04 were darwn against FC Liverpool.

The ‘Reds’ had won the UEFA Cup, the FA Cup and the English League Cup in the previous season. The Toppmöller team were away at the legendary Anfield ground on 3 April 2002. The final result was sobering: Of all people, it was the future Werkself player and head coach Sami Hyypiä who scored the only goal of the game on 44 minutes.

A win by at least two goals was required in the second leg to go through to the last four. The Werkself enjoyed a boost in confidence a few days before: The derby against FC Köln ended in a 2-0 victory.

Emotional rollercoaster

The Champions League second leg was played under floodlights on Tuesday 9 April with a 20.45 CET kick-off. The BayArena was completely sold out with 22,500 spectators watching the game at the stadium. The match initially went to plan for Toppmöller. Michael Ballack put the Black and Reds ahead on 15 minutes with a wonder goal to level the tie. He received a diagonal ball 20 yards out from the opposition goal, left Steven Gerrard standing and fired the ball in the corner of the net with his left foot (16’). However, Liverpool were clinical just before half-time: Abel Xavier was unmarked at a corner and was able to head in the equaliser from close range (42’).

Super sub Dimitar Berbatov

The Werkself were back where they started at the beginning of the second half: Only a two-goal winning margin would be enough for a place in the semi-finals. Toppmöller reacted by bringing on Neuville and Berbatov. Sebescen and Kirsten were replaced. However, it was the visitors who were first out of the blocks: Michael Owen was unmarked in a counter attack but he only hit the post (49’). With Liverpool pressing forward, it was Ballack again who put the hosts back in front: A pin-point cross from Bernd Schneider found the playmaker in the penalty area and he was able to head home (63’). The goal lifted the Werkself and the ball was in Jerzy Dudek’s goal again a few minutes later: Hyypiä failed to clear the ball and Berbatov made no mistake in creating a two-goal lead – the semi-final was within touching distance (68’).

Lucio seals win for Leverkusen

Liverpool refused to give up – and they silenced the crowd with ten minutes to play. Litmanen dribbled past several Black and Red defenders before scoring from the edge of the box (79’). But the shock did not last long. Shortly after that, Lucio restored the two-goal advantage (84’). After some good work in the build-up from Yildiray Bastürk, the central defender broke into the box and put the ball through Dudek’s legs to finally turn the venue on Bismarckstraße into a madhouse. The Werkself survived the final minutes of the game without conceding again – the semi-final slot was confirmed!

Toppmöller: “I just can’t believe it”

While the Liverpool players left the pitch with heads bowed, the Werkself celebrated in style. The victory was the result of an enormous desire to win as well as a tactical master stroke from Toppmöller. Berbatov, introduced at the start of the second-half, made a significant contribution to the victory with an assist and a goal, and Toppmöller changed the formation at the break. “I just can’t believe it. I said before the game that we’ve nothing to lose and can only be winners. We changed from a back four after the restart and we were rewarded for taking a big risk,” the coach rejoiced into the microphones of the assembled journalists.

Calmund: “A dream”

And the then general manager Reiner Calmund is still happy to recall that game as he revealed in the current Werkself podcast: “It was one of greatest experiences I’ve ever had. It was a massive game, unbeatable in terms of drama – a dream!”

Although the Werkself were outstanding in all three competitions, it was not enough to land a title. But the game against Liverpool remains unforgotten – even 18 years later.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Butt – Sebescen (Neuville 46’), Lucio, Nowotny, Placente – Schneider, Ballack, Bastürk, Zé Roberto – Kirsten (Berbatov 46’), Brdaric (Zivkovic 70’)

Liverpool: Dudek – Abel Xavier (Berger 76’), Henchoz, Hyypiä, Carragher – Murphy, Gerrard, Hamann (Smicer 61’), Riise – Owen, Heskey (Litmanen 41’)

Goals: 1-0 Ballack (16’), 1-1 Abel Xavier (42’), 2-1 Ballack (63’), 3-1 Berbatov (68’), 3-2 Litmanen (79’), 4-2 Lucio (84’)

Referee: Vitor Manuel Melo Pereira (Portugal)

Booked: Nowotny, Zé Roberto – Abel Xavier, Henchoz, Riise

Attendance: 22,500 (sold out)