It was matchday 25 in the 1999/00 season – the match away to SSV Ulm at the Donau Stadium kicked off at 15.30 CET in front of 23,500 spectators. Bayer 04, then second in the table behind Bayern Munich, had gone six games unbeaten; at the same time, the 'Sparrows' were in confident mood after two wins in succession and an unbeaten run stretching back to November of the previous year.
Ulm missed two chances at the start of the game – the Werkself were more clinical: Emerson and Paulo Rink started the goal fest. Ulf Kirsten added a third and Emerson doubled his tally to make it 4-0 at half-time.
The Werkself were on top of their game in the first half and the team coached by Christoph Daum carried on in the same vein in the second 45 minutes: Oliver Neuville, Michael Ballack, Zé Roberto with a brace and Bernd Schneider scored to make it 9-0 for Bayer 04. Ulm's Leandro netted a consolation goal just before the end of the game for the final score of 9-1.





Bayer 04: Juric – Nowotny, Ramelow, R. Kovac – Emerson, Ballack, Zé Roberto (Bernd Schneider 82'), Beinlich (Gresko 78') – Neuville, Rink, Kirsten (Zivkovic 52')
Goals: 0-1 Emerson (10’)
0-2 Rink (14’)
0-3 Kirsten (19’)
0-4 Emerson (39’)
0-5 Neuville (68’)
0-6 Zé Roberto (74’)
0-7 Ballack (75’)
0-8 Zé Roberto (81’)
0-9 B. Schneider (85’)
1-9 Leandro (90’)

A simple approach to sport with games, fun and a highlight at the end: Bayer 04 organised a very special training session for 40 participants aged between six and 27 in cooperation with the Football Association of the Middle Rhine (FVM). At the day of action for women and girls with disabilities at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, many of the participants gained their first experience of football.
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On Saturday, 28 March, the lights will go out again at the BayArena from 20:30 pm to 21:30. As in previous years, Bayer 04 once again take part in the WWF Earth Hour campaign under the motto "We're switching off" as the club wants to set a collective example for more climate and environmental protection together with people, cities and companies around the world.
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Less than a year ago, Kerim Alajbegovic moved from the Bayer 04 U19s to Austrian top-flight club FC Red Bull Salzburg. The forward’s development since then has been impressive. In 36 matches, including in the UEFA Europa League, the 18-year-old has scored 14 goals. In the summer, Alajbegovic, now a Bosnia international, will return to Leverkusen - and thus not only achieve the next milestone still early in his career, but also enrich the Werkself squad with his footballing versatility and determination.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with forward Nathan Tella ahead of schedule. The versatile 26-year-old, who can be deployed as a right winger, false nine or left winger, has penned a new contract to 30 June 2031. Tella joined the Werkself from Championship club Southampton in 2023. His previous contract ran to the summer of 2028.
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Nathan Tella has extended his contract with Bayer 04 to 2031. In an interview with Werkself TV, the 26-year-old talks about fulfilling his dreams, his positive outlook on life and his goals for the future. He answers the questions in English - all except the last one, which he addresses directly to the fans...
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