The hosts tire after the hour mark and the team around midfielder Peter Surbach can finally get the upper hand. Manfred Schumann heads home the opening goal from a Hans-Werner Marx corner on 74 minutes. Manfred Vetter, who replaced Peter Litzinger on 66 minutes, makes it 2-0 with a powerful shot from 30 metres out six minutes later. And the former Frechen player Matthias Brücken seals the win on 88 minutes. At the end of the day, a convincing victory and a good start to 1975.
The Werkself are away to league leaders Bonner SC a week later. 5,000 spectators come to the big match at the Bonner Nord Park. Bayer 04 make an impressive start: The team under coach Manfred Rummel take the lead on 14 minutes with a shot from Peter Surbach from 16 metres out but the Bonner team responds aggressively. Urged on by their supporters, they besiege Hubert Makel's goal. But the hosts failed to score in Bayer 04 take the lead into half-time. It is the same story in the second half: on attack, Bayer 04 counter-attack skilfully. The referee is deceived by a dive from the former Bayer 04 youth player Karl Heinz Wöhler on 58 minutes. But Hubert Makel saves the penalty. But he his lucky a few minutes later when a shot hits the post but that does not hold on 72 minutes. A header against the bar bounces back onto his shoulder and into the net – 1-1. Gerd Kentschke has a big chance just before the final whistle but all in all it ends in a fair draw.
The Bayer team are away again on 19 January. This time at BC Oberbruch-Heinsberg. The rearranged game from matchday 13 is watched by only 700 spectators who see the Werkself play good passing football but without the final finish. Manfred Vetter open the scoring in the second half on 63 minutes but the hosts reply with more aggression and energy. Leverkusen clear off the line twice. The deserved equaliser for the Oberbruch team comes on 83 minutes. The Werkself take just one point from the game.
Another rearranged game in the middle of the week this time at home at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. 1,200 spectators want to watch the night match for the Werkself against SG Eschweiler but the floodlights don't have the same stimulating effect on the Bayer team as so often before. Manfred Vetter again opens the scoring on eight minutes with a fine long-range shot but nothing goes right after that. There is uncertainty and misunderstanding in a surprising way and Eschweiler get their chances on goal. The visitors press hard for the equaliser in the second half. But centre-forward Manfred Schumann makes it 2-0 from a corner. Nevertheless, the Bayer game is still unsettled. The whistles from the fans are justified as "the Black and Reds look out of ideas and helpless and that was the reason for a dour football match" (Stadt-Anzeiger dated 23.01.1975). Two points are one in the end. That's the only thing that counts in that game.
The Werkself have another home game four days later. This time Godesberger FV are the visitors in front of 1,500 spectators. Not much goes right in the first half despite an early goal scored by Matthias Brücken (6’). But Manfred Schumann (47') and Matthias Brücken (48’) score two quick goals after the restart and the Werkself are moving the ball much better. Again it is Manfred Schumann who finds the back of the net on 57 minutes to make it 4-0. Matthias Brücken with goals number 15 and 16 of the season and another strike from Klaus Röhrig increase the scoreline to 7-0. The Werkself are one point behind league leaders SC Jülich 10 in second place at the end of January.
Thomas Hörster was born in Essen on 27 November 1956. As a child, he took part in high diving and judo, but was also passionate about football. After starting out at Blau-Weiß Holsterhausen-Essen, he moved on to ETB Schwarz-Weiß Essen. As a U19 player, he trained with the senior side for the first time. And at just under 18 years of age, Thommy – as he is known – made his debut in Bundesliga 2. Over two-and-a-half seasons, he made 71 appearances for Schwarz-Weiß Essen.
Show more
Bernd Dreher was born in Leverkusen on 2 November 1966 and he began playing football at SV Schlebusch at the age of five. At the age of nine, he joined the youth academy at Bayer 04. There, the goalkeeper progressed through all the youth teams and, with the U19s in 1985, he reached the final of the German Championship, that Bayer 04 lost 4-2 to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Show more
Robson Ponte was born on 6 November 1976 in São Paulo. He began his football career in Brazil with CA Juventus. He then played for América FC and Guarani FC. In 1999, he joined Bayer 04. Robson initially played for the Werkself until 2001. He then moved to VfL Wolfsburg on a two-year loan. There, he continued to develop and gained valuable experience in the Bundesliga. In 2003, he returned to Leverkusen, where he particularly showcased his dribbling skills and his ability in attacking midfield. In total, he made 79 appearances for Bayer 04 and scored six goals.
Show more
In this video you can see impressive and important goals in the history of Bayer 04 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
On Sunday, 4 November 1951, the first league derby between Bayer 04 and FC Köln took place. The FC Köln stadium in Müngersdorf was absolutely bursting at the seams for this clash. A veritable invasion of Bayer 04 fans from Leverkusen set off for Cologne by tram and bus. From midday onwards, in addition to the scheduled services, six extra tram services ran at the standard fare from Leverkusen Town Hall to the stadium in Cologne. At the same time, buses operated by Grein ran regularly from Wiesdorf market square to Cologne. In the end, over 5,000 Bayer 04 fans waved their black and red flags in the stands at the FC Köln stadium and got behind their team for ninety minutes.
Show more
