Saturday afternoon, 7 December 1991. In a 6-1 win against the team then bottom of the Bundesliga, SG Wattenscheid 09, Andreas 'Fischi' Fischer bagged a hat-trick. The Paderborn-born player was not a centre forward but instead he played the position of right-back. With his hat-trick, Fischi is to this day the only Leverkusen defender to achieve that feat in the Bundesliga.
For his first goal of the match, Fischer received the ball from Ioan Lupescu. A Wattenscheid player then deflected the ball into the path of the Leverkusen defender allowing him to make it 2-0 with a right foot shot into the far corner (28). Fischer headed in the second from a Jorginho cross – 3-0 (34'). He netted his third in the style of a striker: Fischer ran through on the Wattenscheid keeper and slipped the ball past him into the net (4-1, 58'). And all that was in spite of that then coach Reinhard Saftig describing him as a "poor finisher" in the run-up to the clash with Wattenscheid.
But that was not all: Because Leverkusen's record goalscorer Ulf Kirsten also found the target after a three-month injury lay-off – with a brace – and Jupp Nehl scored too, the Werkself won the game 6-1 to notch up the biggest win in the Bundesliga up to then.
Bayer 04 congratulate Andreas Fischer on the 30th anniversary of his historic hat-trick and join the 57-year-old in once again enjoying the memories.
Fischi, what are your memories of that day that was so special to you personally?
Fischer: Up until this morning, I didn't really register this anniversary but I had some time to be able to think back to then. (He laughs) You have to say that's unusual for a defender. And then I also set one up. Kirsten. There are days where everything just comes off!
How did that 7 December become Fischi's day?
Fischer: (He laughs) I always when forward as a rule set pieces because I'm so tall. But it is incredible that a lot went right for me on that day and that turned into three goals in one match.
Can you still visualise all three goals?
Fischer: I can't exactly remember the individual goals – except for the header. That was special for me even though I was in a striker when I played for the youth teams. Perhaps there was a bit of a final striker gene still with me that day that allow me to dance into the penalty area (he laughs).
How were the hat-trick and the record victory celebrated? Did you have to buy a round?
Fischer: If it was a really normal matchday for me then I would have had to donate a crate of beer a week (he laughs). Joking aside. Fortunately not. We had somebody in Ulf Kirsten who managed to do that much more often than I did.
The goals are HERE to watch and enjoy again.
The full video of the interview in German is HERE.
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
Show more
After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
Show more
When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
Show more
To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
Show more
