Matches of the month: Two derbies – top of the table twice
1996 and 2001: The derby games against the neighbours from Cologne from those years evoke positive feelings amongst Bayer 04 fans.
Display videos
Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.
sold-out UHS and triple whammy
Bayer 04 and FC Köln meet in the derby in front of a full house at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on 30 November 1996. The 0-0 scoreline at half-time is flattering to FC Köln with the hosts having a chances ratio of 6 to 1. But the pressure from the Werkself is immense after the restart.
Within 20 minutes they tear apart the Köln defence and go 3-0 up with goals from Markus Happe, Ulf Kirsten and Paulo Sergio (Goal of the Month with a volley). The match ends in a deserved 4-2 victory and Bayer 04 go top the table for the first time in the season on matchday 16 after a 1-1 draw between Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart.
catch up in cologne and game turned round
Five years later: same opponent, different venue and completely different situation. Bayer 04 are second in the Bundesliga with 30 points just one behind Bayern Munich. The neighbours from Cologne are 16th on eight points and have great worries. 41,000 spectators come to the stadium in Müngersdorf including at least 5,000 from Leverkusen.
FC Köln put a brave fight and take a 1-0 lead with a man down on 57 minutes. But Bayer 04 soon hit back – the equaliser is scored by Ulf Kirsten six minutes later. Oliver Neuville nets the winner for the visitors at 2-1 on 72 minutes. The Werkself go top because league leaders Bayern Munich lose 1-0 at Werder Bremen.
Related News
Bayer 04 - 01.04.2025
Birthday boy of the month 1: Willi Korth turns 70
Willi Korth was born in Essen on 12 April 1955. He was a youth player at TuS Essen 81. After coming to the attention of Schwarz Weiss Essen, he signed for them in the Bundesliga 2 North for the 1977/78 season. He made 24 appearances and scored one goal. The Black and Whites from Essen were relegated at the end of the season.
Show more
Bayer 04 - 01.04.2025
Birthday boy of the month 2: Rudi Völler turns 65
Rudolf ‘Rudi’ Völler was born in Hanau on 13 April 1960. His father took the young Rudi as an eight-year-old to training at TSV 1860 Hanau. In the sedate Hessen town on the Main he came to the attention of Offenbach Kickers. But Rudi completed his secondary school and started training to become an office administrator.
Show more
Bayer 04 - 01.04.2025
Birthday boy of the month 3: Jean Pierre de Keyser turns 60
Jean Pierre de Keyser was born in Cologne on 13 April 1965 as the son of a Belgian NATO soldier stationed in Spich and a German mother. His childhood dream of becoming a vet was resolutely followed at school initially. But football threw a spanner in the works.
Show more
Bayer 04 - 01.04.2025
From the archives: 70 years ago – Decider for second place
The third last matchday in the 1954/55 season brings a big showdown at the Stadion Am Stadtpark – the Werkself entertain second-placed SV Sodingen. A win for Bayer 04 would take them above Sodingen and qualify for the finals of the German championship if the last two games of the season in the Oberliga West 1 are also won.
Show more
Bayer 04 - 01.04.2025
Goals of the month: From Hermann to Calhanoglu
In this video you can watch impressive and important goals in the history of Bayer 04 in the month of April. It is not always about the beauty of the goals but also about remembering special games and players.
Show more
