Match of the month: 20 years ago - A game of goals galore
It is 11 February 2006 and Schalke 04 and the Werkself kick off at 3.30 p.m. in a match that ends up being historic - at least from a Bayer 04 perspective.
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The Werkself are caught out in the first 35 minutes, as the hosts are already 3-0 up after goals from Schalke's Larsen, Krstajic and Bajramovic. From then on, Bayer 04 played hara-kiri, scoring before the break to make it 3-1 through Andrej Voronin. When Dimitar Berbatov pulled another goal back on 50 minutes, there was a glimmer of hope for the visitors. But five minutes later, Kuranyi scored the fourth goal for Schalke, and a further eight minutes later Larsen netted the fifth. Nevertheless, the Werkself fought back again. Andrej Voronin and Jacek Krzynowek scored again to reduce the deficit to just one goal - 4-5.
When Schalke's Lincoln then sinks a free-kick from 25 metres into the Leverkusen goal in the 76th minute, Bayer 04 coach Michael Skibbe realises: that's it. Once again, his team failed to fight off the threat of defeat. Schalke's seventh goal turned this defeat into something historic for the Black and Reds. The Werkself have never before conceded more goals in a Bundesliga match, and it is still the game with the most goals scored by Bayer 04.
Twice, at 3-0 and 5-2, the Werkself fought their way back into the game. That's positive, of course. But conceding seven goals is tough. The fans of the Royal Blues are naturally delighted and the Schalke players, including their coach Mirko Slomka, are full of praise for the Werkself performance. But Bayer 04 coach Michael Skibbe naturally sees things differently.
Even if it doesn't look like it after this game - Bayer 04 are only tenth in the table on a meagre 25 points - the Werkself go on to secure fifth place with an overall impressive Rückrunde and thereby qualify for the UEFA Cup
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