FC Bayern versus Werder Bremen – a duel that has always stood for rivalry. Ahead of the 112th Bundesliga encounter, we look back at the most iconic clashes between the two teams.
The omens for the most frequent pairing in Bundesliga history have been characterized by great tension for a long time: FC Bayern Munich cannot afford to slip up in the long-distance duel for the championship trophy with BVB. On Saturday (6.30 p.m. in the live ticker) the leaders could extend their lead to four points with a win on the Weser. Borussia Dortmund welcomes VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday (5.30 p.m. in the live ticker).
Not only the table situation speaks against the Bremen (12), who are still slightly threatened with relegation, but also the clear record against FCB. In the previous 111 games in the German upper house, the German record champions emerged victorious 59 times, while Werder won “only” 26 times. That’s how often the two teams shared the points.
In the DFB Cup, Bremen “only” won once in nine games – this victory was a very special one, as will be seen in this list.
SPOX watched the most prestigious duels between Bayern and Bremen.
Uli Hoeneß vs. Willi Lemke
The duels got their first real spark in the 1980s. Werder manager Willi Lemke and Bayern boss Uli Hoeneß fought a kind of class war outside the square: Willi the socialist against Uli the capitalist.
After the FCB narrowly won the championship in front of Bremen in 1986, Hoeneß described him as a “rabble-rouser”. Lemke’s answer was not long in coming: “Either he was drunk or he wants to kindle the fire against us even more!” Another highlight followed when Lemke moved from the football business to Bremen City Hall and became Senator for Education.
“It’s amazing that a man with such a character can become a minister in a federal state,” said Hoeneß. A nice farewell. In the years that followed, the two brawlers did not remain silent.
Klaus Augenthaler vs. Rudi Völler
The first excitement on the pitch came when Klaus Augenthaler brutally fouled Rudi Völler in 1985.
The Bayern captain only saw yellow at the time, Völler, on the other hand, had to sit out injured for months. Bayern won 3-1 with a brace from Dieter Hoeneß, while a certain Thomas Schaaf equalized for Bremen.
“We don’t play chess,” said FCB coach Udo Lattek after the game. Manager Uli Hoeneß had seen a “normal foul”.
Völler himself described the statements as “a sign of poverty for FC Bayern”. And further: “If you have to play as aggressively and brutally as Bayern played against us to become German football champions, then I’d rather give up the title.”
Ultimately, Bayern actually secured the championship trophy – for a good reason…
Michael Kutzop’s miss
“I missed the most famous penalty in league history,” Michael Kutzop said years later about the game against FC Bayern in 1986, just a few months after the 3-1 draw.
In the duel for the title on the penultimate day, the penalty taker, who was actually so sure, only hit the post. It was his only miss from the point.
The game ended 0-0, Werder were overtaken by Bayern on the last day of the game. With a win, Bremen, who were two points ahead, would have become champions.
FC Bayern spoils the championship for Otto Rehhagel
In 1995, Bayern Bremen again spoiled the championship. The Munich team defeated their future coach Otto Rehhagel 3-1 in his last game for Werder.
BVB won at the same time at HSV and was crowned champion. For Rehhagel, the time in Munich ended after 30 Bundesliga match days.
Werder Bremen wins the DFB Cup from the point
In the 1999 DFB Cup final, goalkeeper Frank Rost became a hero. In the penalty shoot-out he first scored himself and then saved against Lothar Matthäus.
In a thrilling final it was initially 1:1. Mario Basler (FCB) had meanwhile been sent off.
FC Bayern succeeds in taking revenge
In the new edition of the final a year later, Bayern returned the favor.
Giovanne Elber, Paulo Sergio and Mehmet Scholl scored the goals in a one-sided 3-0 win over the green-whites.
Oliver Kahn slips up, Werder Bremen gets the bowl
Ironically, in the Munich Olympic Stadium, the Bremen team made the championship perfect on May 8, 2004.
Ivan Klasnic, Ailton and Johan Micoud scored in Bremen’s 3-1 away win – Oliver Kahn made a bitter mistake in the first goal conceded.
Franck Ribéry introduces himself
In Bayern’s 4-0 win in Bremen, Franck Ribery, who had just been signed, showed his extra cash for the first time in the Bundesliga.
The Frenchman fooled Werder with a few tricks and also scored his first Bundesliga goal from a Panenka penalty against Tim Wiese.
Klinsmann Bayern will be dismantled
In September 2008, Mesut Özil and Co. completely threw Bayern, coached by Jürgen Klinsmann, apart in a 5-2 win in the Allianz Arena.
It was 5-0 after 70 minutes for the green-whites before short-Bayer Tim Borowski was able to do some cosmetic work for the hosts.
At the same time, it was Bremen’s last win against the German record champions.
The third cup final
In 2010, the two met for the third time in a DFB Cup final. Bayern under Louis van Gaal made short work of Werder a week before the CL final against Inter.
Arjen Robben, Ivica Olic, Franck Ribéry and Bastian Schweinsteiger scored the goals to make it 4-0. In the end, however, nothing came of the triple.
Double pack by Philipp Lahm
In the following years, under Jupp Heynckes and Pep Guardiola, Munich celebrated one shooting match after the other against Werder.
This was also the case with the 6-0 on October 18, 2014, when Philipp Lahm tied the only brace of his career.
Arturo Vidal’s swallow paves Bayern’s victory
In 2016 it was also Bayern versus Werder in the DFB Cup semifinals. After a swallow by Arturo Vidal, Thomas Müller converted the penalty kick.
In the second half, Müller made it 2-0 with his second goal.
“It was a wrong decision. I’m sorry,” admitted referee Tobias Stieler afterwards: “The scene overshadowed the game.”
For Müller, too, it was “a swallow. From the game it looked like a foul. It was also close to a foul, but it certainly wasn’t one.” He also expressed understanding for the anger on the Bremen side: “If a penalty happens against us, I’ll stand here and speak in a different key.”
In addition, Guardiola apologized to Bremen. “The penalty wasn’t a penalty. I’m sorry,” he said.
FC Bayern vs. Werder Bremen: One-sided affair
Werder last won against Bayern almost 15 years ago, and the last point they won was in the 2020/21 relegation season (1-1).
Before and after that, Bremen received numerous applause, including in the first leg this season. On matchday 14, FCB clearly won 6-1.
Among other things, ex-Bremer Serge Gnabry scored three times – the final point was set by 17-year-old Mathys Tel.
