Back
1.02.2025Bayer 04

From the archives: 70 years ago – snowball fight in Dortmund

Bayer 04 are second in the First Oberliga West in February of the 1954/55 season. The Werkself travel to Dortmund on 20 February for an away game. 6,000 spectators want to see the match on a snow-covered pitch at the Rote Erde Stadium.
Bayer 04 1954/55

The Black and Reds take the lead on four minutes thanks to a goal from left winger Horst Schultz. A journalist in his news report describes the Bayer 04 style of play as of "the English style: unpretentious, powerful and with sober-minded success." Borussia look to find the winning way by playing a passing game on the tricky snow-covered surface, which only succeeds at times. Nevertheless, Alfred Kelbassa levels for the Black and Yellows on 28 minutes but Leo Bering restores the lead for the Bayer team before half-time.

In the second half, BVB attack the goal brilliantly minded by Fredi Mutz. Mutz, playing in a tracksuit because of the cold, could not prevent Wolfgang Peters equalising before half-time. But this time it only takes ten minutes before Leo Behring again gives the Werkself the lead. One Borussia attack after the other rains down on the Bayer 04 goal but the players led by centre back Peter Röger stop any further goals being scored.

The Kicker on the Werkself: "The team avoid any forms of deception. That's why they are clearly underrated. Every player appears worked through and sees himself as a modest servant for the good of the team as a whole."

In addition, a newspaper reporter visits the Bayer 04 dressing room after the game and discovers, "that there has rarely been a more heartfelt harmony between the players and the officials of a club. And this mental approach could provide the solution to the puzzle of the continuing Bayer wins."

Harmony has never undermined sporting success, we saw that last season.

Related News

Tranquillo Barnetta wird 40 | Geburtstagskind des Monats Mai
Bayer 04 - 01.05.2025

Birthday boy of the month: Tranquillo Barnetta turns 40

Tranquillo Barnetta was born in St. Gallen in Switzerland on 22 May 1985. Quillo, as he was called in the football world, has Italian roots. His great-grandfather emigrated from Italy to the east of Switzerland. Quillo was interested in football early on and he played for the St. Gallen club FC Rotmonten from the age of six. He joined his favourite club FC St. Gallen at the age of 11. There he became a youth international. He won the European Championships with his teammates in the Switzerland U17 team in 2002. The youngsters from Switzerland beat France 4-2 on penalties in the final to become U17 European champions.

Show more
Bayer 04 im Jahr 1964
Bayer 04 - 01.05.2025

From the archives: 60 years ago – The big worry

Since the establishment of the Bundesliga on 28 July 1962 for the 1963/64 season, there have been five Regional Leagues: North, Berlin, West, South-west and South. The champions of those five leagues qualified directly for promotion play-offs that were played in two groups of four teams. That included the two second-placed teams in the West and South-west Regional Leagues. The two runners-up from the North and the South played a qualifier for the eighth place in the promotion games.

Show more
Von Klimke bis Brandt | Tore des Monats Mai
Bayer 04 - 01.05.2025

Goals of the month: From Klimke to Brandt

In this video you can watch impressive and important goals in the history of Bayer 04 in the month of May. It is not always about the beauty of the goals but also about remembering special games and players.

Show more
Vor 40 Jahren – Torreichstes Bundesliga-Derby | Spiel des Monats Mai
Bayer 04 - 01.05.2025

Match of the month: 40 years ago – Highest scoring Bundesliga derby

There were high summer temperatures in Leverkusen on 25 May 1985. Matchday 32 brings FC Köln to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium with only 13,000 spectators at the derby. That is primarily due to the Werkself with Bayer 04 rarely impressing in that season and they are eleventh in the table before the game just three points ahead of sixteenth, the play-off spot. But with the two points for a win rule back then – two points were awarded for a win – and with the significantly better goal difference, the Werkself need every point to get out of trouble.

Show more
Aufstieg 1975
Bayer 04 - 01.05.2025

History: 50 years ago – Promotion season 1974/75 (May)

It was all or nothing on the final matchday in the Verbandsliga in the 1974/75 season. Only now would it be decided who were champions and thereby participate in the promotion games to the Bundesliga 2 North. The earlier rivals Viktoria Köln, SC Jülich 10 and Bonner SC have fallen by the wayside.

Show more