1.05.2025Bayer 04

Match of the month: 40 years ago – Highest scoring Bundesliga derby

There were high summer temperatures in Leverkusen on 25 May 1985. Matchday 32 brings FC Köln to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium with only 13,000 spectators at the derby. That is primarily due to the Werkself with Bayer 04 rarely impressing in that season and they are eleventh in the table before the game just three points ahead of sixteenth, the play-off spot. But with the two points for a win rule back then – two points were awarded for a win – and with the significantly better goal difference, the Werkself need every point to get out of trouble.

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Bayer 04 coach Dettmar Cramer had already announced his departure from Leverkusen two months before. His successor, Erich Ribbeck from the DFB, was already confirmed. So everybody who cared about the Black and Reds wanted to see a sensible and to the season.

FC Köln are third in the table. There is no room for improvement above and the lead over fifth place, a position securing qualification in the UEFA Cup, is three points.

Five goals before half-time

It is an entertaining game from the start. A wonder goal from Christian Schreier gives Bayer 04 the lead on 22 minutes but FC Köln level three minutes later through Pierre Littbarski. A mistake by the FC keeper Toni Schumacher, who lets a weak long-range effort from Dirk Schlegel into his net, and two goals for the Cologne team give FC Köln a 3-2 lead at half-time.

Bayer 04 gegen 1. FC Köln am 25. Mai 1985

The Goats go 4-2 up after the restart from a corner and look like the certain winners. However, the visitors miss a number of chances. And the Werkself pull a goal back from the penalty spot through Herbert Waas. The same player equalises at 4-4 on 75 minutes.

The match is very entertaining and the scoreline remains the same to the end. The eight goals scored in this game make it the highest scoring derby in the Bundesliga.

The two line-ups for the nostalgic amongst us:

Bayer 04: Vollborn – A. Reinhardt, Bast, Gelsdorf, Hinterberger, Röber, Patzke (Pomp 46’), Schlegel (Geschlecht 81’), Giske, Waas, Schreier

FC Köln: Schumacher – Prestin, Lefkes, Hönerbach, Geils, Lehnhoff (Geilenkirchen 65’), Häßler (Haas 55’), Gielchen, Engels, Littbarski, Allofs

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