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.
“Year after year, this is an incredibly valuable gathering, both in terms of the content covered and the opportunity for mutual discussion,” stressed Bayer 04 goalkeeping coach David Thiel in his welcoming address at this year’s goalkeeping coaches’ meeting. This was the third time in four seasons that the event had been held at the BayArena. Organised by the German Football Association (DFB), the meeting brought together goalkeeping coaches from the Bundesliga, Bundesliga 2 and the 3rd division from the west region. For the first time this year, goalkeeping coaches from the youth performance centres (NLZ) were also present. Bayer 04 fitness coach Markus Müller provided fascinating insights into the specific fitness training carried out with the Werkself’s goalkeepers.
Show more
It was another incredibly close call in the end: The second showdown in the 2026/27 VBL Club Championship saw the #B04eSports team once again narrowly miss out on a place in the top 16 of the preliminary round – and with it, a spot in the in-person knockout stage. It was a bitter blow: Marc and Sean Landwehr again fell just short, despite being level on points with their rivals. As was the case last month, their weaker record across the twelve individual matches in the six preliminary round fixtures proved decisive.
Show more
Several Werkself players are set to represent their national teams during the final international break of 2026. Here’s an overview of who has been called up and the matches they will face in November. This article will be updated regularly.
Show more
“They stuck with us over the past few weeks when things weren’t going so well,” said captain Edmond Tapsoba, thanking the fans for their support after the 2–1 win in Cologne and dedicating the derby victory to them. Throughout the 90 minutes, the Werkself had looked unfazed and in command, inflicting the first home defeat of the season on FC Köln. It was the sixth consecutive win against the Cologne team for Bayer 04 – head coach Carles Martínez, on the other hand, was facing the team from the neighbouring city for the first time and “now really knows what this derby win means”. The Werkself derby review.
Show more
Following the 2–1 derby victory away at FC Köln on Bundesliga matchday 9, Edmond Tapsoba, Malik Tillman and Aleix Garcia spoke to Werkself TV...
Show more
