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1.01.2022Bayer 04

Match of the month: Training camp and a "sensible" start

In January 1997, the Werkself made their way to sunnier climes in preparation for the start of the second half of the season that began with an away game at Borussia Dortmund on 14 February. The first of two training camps were held in La Borghesiana Romana in Rome, and the second in the USA in Orlando. The training camp in Florida brought wonderful weather and successful training.

Despite the heavy workload that the coach Christoph Daum imposed on his players, the results speak for themselves: 4-0 against the Czech second division side Vitkovice, 3-0 against the USA team Orlando Sundogs and, above all, the 2-1 victory over Bundesliga rivals Hamburg SV.

Five years later, the second half of the season started after the winter break with matchday 19. Hansa Rostock visited the BayArena on 26 January 2002. The league leaders Bayer 04 started with a late but deserved 2-0 win. During the winter break, coach Klaus Toppmöller familiarised his players with "sensible football". It says a lot for the morale of the group that they kept coming back after going behind but the constant effort was not easily repeated. That led to this unspectacular but patient and "sensible" regulation win.

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Bayer 04 fans had to wait until the 76th minute for the opener from Boris Zivkovic. All worries were put aside four minutes later when Michael Ballack converted a penalty. The Werkself felt well-equipped for the top game a week later against the reigning German champions Bayern Munich at the Olympic Stadium in Munich.

The video includes a three-minute summary of the match against Hansa Rostock.

 

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