1.06.2025Bayer 04

Match of the month: 40 years ago – Final matchday

In a messed-up season in 1984/85 everybody is happy that the battle against relegation is over before the final matchday. The visitors are UEFA Cup contenders SV Waldhof Mannheim in front of a sparse 6,000 spectators at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The Waldhof lads under their coach Klaus Schlappner are the surprise packet of the season. In their second campaign in the Bundesliga, the team from Mannheim are fifth on 35 points (with two points for a win back then) ahead of the game in Leverkusen and in a UEFA Cup qualifying spot. Two points behind them are Bayer 05 Uerdingen and Hamburg SV.

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The Werkself have nothing to play for and can only drop down to the play-off spot of sixteenth if they lose to Waldhof Mannheim, Arminia Bielefeld clock up a massive win against Bayer 05 Uerdingen, Borussia Dortmund beat Werder Bremen and Fortuna Düsseldorf pick up a point at VfL Bochum. Pretty unlikely that all that happens.

Ahead of the game, coach Dettmar Cramer, who produced very successful work under the Bayer Cross for three years, and Helmut Winklhofer, who returns to Bayern Munich, receive a send-off from football boss Hermann Thul.

The game on 8 June 1985 starts well for the Werkself who are free of all pressure. Bayer 04 take the lead on nine minutes with a great shot from Florian Hinterberger. When Herbert Waas doubles the lead with a free kick into the top corner of the Mannheim goal 20 minutes later, it looks like a clear win for the Werkself.

Waldhof coach Klaus Schlappner brings striker Fritz Walter on for the second half and the Mannheim team up the tempo in the knowledge that Hamburg SV are beating Schalke 04. But the Werkself only concede late on 82 minutes and Bayer 04 are able to defend their 2-1 lead to secure the win.

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