Back
1.12.2023Bayer 04

From the archives: 30 years ago - 500th Bundesliga game and leaders at Christmas

On Matchday 17 of the 1993/94 Bundesliga season, Bayer Leverkusen were in fourth place, three points behind leaders Eintracht Frankfurt and level with Kaiserslautern in fifth. Back then you only got two points for a win. Bayern Munich and Duisburg were the teams between the Werkself and the summit.

Display videos

Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.

When Duisburg came to the Ulreich-Haberland-Stadion on Matchday 18 and were sent packing with a 2-1 loss thanks to goals from Ulf Kirsten and Christian Wörns, Bayer 04 moved to within a point of Frankfurt after they lost at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach. And since Bayern were also beaten 3-1 in Freiburg at the same time, but Kaiserslautern and Hamburg won their games, the top six were only separated by two points.

Matchday 19 took the Werkself to Munich, where a hard-fought but thoroughly deserved 1-1 draw took Dragoslav Stepanovic’s side into first place after Kaiserslautern (3-1 at Gladbach) and Eintracht (1-0 in Bremen) both lost their games.

In the final game before Christmas, which was Bayer 04’s 500th in the Bundesliga, the opponent was relegation-threatened Wattenscheid.

Wattenscheid went ahead in the 29th minute through Souleyman Sane, the father of current Bayern and former Leverkusen youth player Leroy Sane. However, Kirsten provided an immediate response straight from the restart. It was all looking like the Werkself would go on to win, but a red card for Jens Melzig in the 65th minute meant that both teams were content with a point.

With Kaiserslautern and Frankfurt holding each other to a 1-1 draw, and Bayern and Werder Bremen also drawing against Dynamo Dresden and VfB Leipzig respectively, the Werkself remained top of the Bundesliga. However, only two points separated the leaders and Duisburg down in seventh as Bayer 04 went into the deserved winter break as the 1993 Christmas champions.

Related News

Peter Zanter wird 60 | Geburtstagskind des Monats November I
Bayer 04 - 01.11.2025

Birthday boy of the month 1: Peter Zanter turns 60

Peter Zanter was born on 11 November 1965 in Wermelskirchen in the Rhineland. His passion for football was evident from an early age: As a child, he played enthusiastically for the youth teams at SV Dabringhausen and SV Wermelskirchen. His ability and discipline did not go undetected for long - and he joined the youth section at Bayer 04 at a young age.

Show more
Boris Zivkovic wird 50 | Geburtstagskind des Monats November II
Bayer 04 - 01.11.2025

Birthday boy of the month 2: Boris Zivkovic turns 50

Boris Zivkovic was born on 15 November 1975 in the Bosnian town of Zivinice, which is now part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He played for FK Sarajevo at a young age. However, his youth was characterised by the turmoil of the wars in the former Yugoslavia. At the age of just 17, he was also called up and took part in the fighting - a fate shared by many young men of his generation.

Show more
Rüdiger Vollborn mit Dr. Jürgen Schwericke
Bayer 04 - 01.11.2025

Legends: Under the Cross for 44 years

For once, this is going to be about me. About my path into football, my years as a goalkeeper at Bayer 04 and my ‘career after my career’ at this great club. So, come with me on a little journey through time...

Show more
crop_19851101_Hoerster_Zechel_Waas_Glass_Schreier.jpg
Bayer 04 - 01.11.2025

Match of the month: 40 years ago - Bayer 04 hit the jackpot

It is 1 November 1985, a Friday evening, floodlights on. The leaders Werder Bremen with their coach Otto Rehhagel come to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. 15,000 spectators want to watch this top match, as the Werkself, with their new coach Erich Ribbeck, are in fourth place in the table, just five points behind the leaders.

Show more
Hakan Calhanoglu
Bayer 04 - 01.11.2025

Goals of the month: From Demuth to Calhanoglu

In the video you can see impressive and important goals in Bayer 04 history from the month of November. It's not always about the beauty of the goals, but also a reminder of special games and players.

Show more