Back
1.06.2021Bayer 04

Matches of the month: Salvation on matchday 33 – Race to be top goalscorer

On the penultimate matchday of the 1980/81 season, Bayer 04 had a three-point lead over the drop zone. Exactly as in the first season, the Werkself are never really threatened with relegation but the team cannot completely shake off the threat in their second season in the Bundesliga. On matchday 33 there is an away trip to Duisburg for a game at the Wedau Stadium.

In a match full of counter-attacks, the team led by Willibert Kremer dismantle the Zebras and could have been further ahead than 4-0 after 70 minutes. The two goals scored by Duisburg in the last ten minutes are due to lapses of concentration in the Bayer 04 defence who just appeared to be chaperoning the MSV strikers out of anticipation of reaching the target of another year in the Bundesliga. The game ends in a deserved 4-2 victory.

19810606_MSV_B04_65_0_3_Glowacz_Oekland_1_imago16024824h.jpg

Kirsten and Yeboah neck and neck

The last matchday of the 1992/93 season. The stadium is full and Leverkusen are looking forward to the cup final the following week. Nevertheless, this match against Borussia Mönchengladbach still has great significance: On the one hand, it's about securing a place in Europe in the improbable event of a defeat against the Hertha Berlin Reserves a week later, and on the other hand the first win of the top goalscorer trophy by a Bayer 04 player, that is Ulf Kirsten. After his main rival Anthony Yeboah (Eintracht Frankfurt) pulled ahead in the first half, there is huge joy amongst the fans and the team when the 'Schwatte' makes it 2-0 on the hour mark to pull level with Yeboah. The Werkself win 4-0 against Mönchengladbach with Yeboah and Ulf Kirsten both topping the scorers list with 20 goals. The two players are awarded the top goalscorer trophy at the next meeting of Bayer 04 and Eintracht Frankfurt in September 1993. Bayer 04 TV bring you the highlights of the win against the Foals. Click HERE for the video.

crop_19930605_B04_BMG_007_Kirsten_Happe.jpg

 

A week later, Kirsten is the hero with the much celebrated only goal of the game for the DFB Cup winners of 1993: Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

Related News

Wolfgang Vöge
Bayer 04 - 01.09.2025

Birthday boy of the month I: Wolfgang ‘Wolle’ Vöge turns 70

Wolfgang Vöge was born on 15 September 1955 in Ahlen, Westphalia and he was the fourth of seven children of a miner. His father, Erich Vöge, was a football referee as well. At an early age, Wolle, as he was called by his friends and teammates, developed a great passion for football and was an enthusiastic fan of BVB. His first success in football was achieved in the amateur game at his hometown club of SV Ahlen. He scored 26 goals in the first season and he came to the attention of scouts. That led to his move to Borussia Dortmund in 1975.

Show more
Andreas Thom
Bayer 04 - 01.09.2025

Birthday boy of the month III: Andreas ‘Andi’ Thom turns 60

Andreas Thom was born on 7 September 1965 in Rüdersdorf near Berlin in Brandenburg. Andreas displayed an exceptional talent on the ball even as a child. Early on, he joined the youth section at BFC Dynamo Berlin, one of the leading football clubs in the German Democratic Republic. There he received targeted, performance-oriented training as part of the GDR sports system. His talent, his vision and his technique led him to make his debut in the first team at BFC Dynamo at the age of 17.

Show more
Jens „Melle“ Melzig
Bayer 04 - 01.09.2025

Birthday boy of the month II: Jens ‘Melle’ Melzig turns 60

Jens Melzig was born in Cottbus on 28 September 1965. Melle, as he was called at Leverkusen, started his playing career at his hometown club Energie Cottbus. As a young player there he soon stood out thanks to his strength in challenges and his ability to read the game. He was in the Energie Cottbus first team in 1984 and he played for the club in the GDR league and the Oberliga. With 144 appearances and twelve goals he became one of the big players in defence. He made a major contribution to the club during this period – as a strong-tackling central defender who also displayed leadership qualities.

Show more
Lucio
Bayer 04 - 01.09.2025

Legends: Lucio, the Brazilian elemental force

Lucio, full name Lucimar Ferreira da Silva, was born on 8 May 1978 in Planaltina, a suburb of the Brazilian capital Brasília. He showed his passion for football even as a child. On the dusty streets of his neighbourhood he spent hours chasing the ball – often in bare feet like many Brazilian children. Despite the simple conditions he grew up in, his family always supported his dream of one day becoming a great football player. He made his first steps in club football at small local clubs before moving onto the youth set-up at the club Guará and later he singed for the big club Internacional Porto Alegre. Bayer 04 signed the internationally completely unknown defender from there in January 2000.

Show more
Admir Mehmedi
Bayer 04 - 01.09.2025

Goals of the month: From Ökland to Mehmedi

In this video you can watch impressive and important goals in the history of Bayer 04 in the month of September. It is not always about the beauty of the goals but also about remembering special games and players.

Show more