Match of the month I: From a dream – First the Bökelberg, then TV
Two dreams…
1996/97: First the Bökelberg, then TV
A week after the home win against Werder Bremen in the 1996 – 97 season, the Werkself head to the Bökelberg in Mönchengladbach. With five games to play, there is still the chance of a first league title with a three-point gap to league leaders Bayern Munich and a seven-goals worse goal difference. The Werkself get off to a flying start at that legendary stadium: Niko Kovac puts the visitors ahead after 40 seconds. With aggressive in challenges and full motivation, the Werkself have Gladbach on the ropes in the first half and they lead 2-0 at half-time with the second goal scored by Ulf Kirsten. Borussia pressed our team back into their own half after the restart. The hosts pull a goal back on 65 minutes and then, to the dismay of all Leverkusen players, the equaliser comes in the last minute of the game.
The next day all the Bayer 04 players are sitting in front of the TV watching the Munich derby between 1860 and FC Bayern. With the score at 2-2, the Bayern player Christian Ziege is shown a second yellow card and 1860 go 3-2 up on 82 minutes through Jörg Böhme. Lothar Matthäus is sent off a minute later again with a second yellow card for FC Bayern. However, Carsten Jancker nets the leveller for the nine men on 88 minutes.
For me, that is still the crucial matchday in the title race as a win against Borussia Mönchengladbach at the same time as a deserved defeat for FC Bayern against 1860 Munich would have put us level on points with the league leaders. Whether that would have been enough in the end is debatable but the chances would have been greater. The 4-0 defeat in the derby at FC Köln on matchday 33 finally settled matters and Bayern were the champions of Germany. We were left with second place and a slot in the Champions League qualifiers, which saw us progress in August after two games against Dinamo Tbilisi. In the final home game of the season against VfL Bochum, I was able to make Bundesliga appearance 399 and for me it was my best season at Bayer 04.
Related News
Bayer 04 - 01.03.2026
Birthday boy of the month: Franca turns 50
Francoaldo Sena de Souza, known as Franca, was born on 2 March 1976 in Codó in north-eastern Brazil and is one of the best-known Brazilian football players of the late 1990s and early 2000s. His exceptional talent became apparent early on. He began his career at smaller Brazilian clubs before moving to the tradition-steeped São Paulo FC in 1996. There, Franca quickly developed into one of the most dangerous strikers in the league. His technique, goal-scoring instinct and agility delighted fans and pundits alike, and he scored numerous goals for the club over the years.
Show more
Bayer 04 - 01.03.2026
Legends: Lars Bender - The Bavarian at Bayer 04
Lars Bender was born on 27 April 1989 in Rosenheim and grew up with his twin brother Sven in a football-loving family. They began playing football in Brannenburg, a small community near Rosenheim. The twins joined Unterhaching to play for the U11 side, followed by a move to the U14s at 1860 Munich. There, Lars and Sven became German champions with the U17s, skipped the Lion's U19s and were directly part of the 1860 Munich first and second team squads.
Show more
Bayer 04 - 01.03.2026
Goals of the month: From Bruckmann to Schick
In this video you can see impressive and important goals in Bayer 04 history from the month of March . It's not always about the beauty of the goals, but also a reminder of special games and players.
Show more
Bayer 04 - 01.03.2026
Match of the month: 45 years ago - A victory is needed
Bayer 04 had their backs to the wall after a 3-1 defeat in a rearranged match at FC Kaiserslautern on 17 March 1981. After a throw-in, which the linesman clearly indicated in favour of the Werkself, but which the Lauter team quickly took and the weak referee did not intervene, a dubious penalty was awarded. Lauter took advantage of this to make it 2-1 in the 84th minute. Finally, a shot by the home side, which did not cross the line, made it 3-1 and Bayer 04 had to go home from Betzenberg without any points.
Show more
Bayer 04 - 01.03.2026
History: 75 years ago - The 1950/51 season (March)
It was 4 March 1951 and Bayer 04 were five points ahead going into the decisive home game against second-placed SSV Wuppertal, who would merge with TSG Vohwinkel 80 to form Wuppertaler SV three years later. Bayer 04 press officer Heinz Nelles predicted a big matchday at the sports ground at the Stadtpark and recommends Bayer 04 fans to buy their tickets in advance from the usual ticket outlets, especially from Peter Haas at the Trinkhalle Rathaus. After a four-week injury lay-off, centre-forward Emil ‘Bubi’ Becks will be back for the first time. And when the gates to the Stadtpark are opened on Sunday, the spectators stream into the stadium. The windows of the houses on the neighbouring Walter-Nernst-Straße are also packed.
Show more
