Bayern pulls off a legendary comeback: the craziest game in Bundesliga history

This weekend, VfL Bochum faces Bayern Munich, and Hermann Gerland will once again have to recall the story of the “never-ending game”. On September 18, 1976, VfL lost 5-6 to Bayern in a match that became legendary. It is truly the “Match of the Century”.

Hermann Gerland recalled his feelings in his book “Always on the Field”: “I lost that game at least a hundred and fifty times. One would have been enough.” On that unforgettable afternoon, VfL Bochum faced the giants of Bayern Munich and lost 5-6 at home. This score is already noteworthy, but considering the circumstances of the day, the result becomes even more surprising. Bochum, previously considered a “low-ranking team,” was ahead 4-0 after 53 minutes, an unprecedented record in Bundesliga history.

Even though VfL ultimately lost, fans paradoxically accepted it as the “match of the century.” That moment symbolized a lead that could never be easily maintained.

“I don’t know if we can stop this,” VfL manager Heinz Hör is said to have muttered on his way to the dressing room at half-time with the team 3-0 down. The feeling of that stable situation becoming unstable is now engraved in the club’s DNA. Now, even though they are 5-0 up in the 89th minute, Bochum fans nervously look at the clock and say: “It’s not over yet!”

Every time a new manager came to Bayern – whether it was Louis van Gaal, Pep Guardiola or Carlo Ancelotti – Hermann Gerland always had to repeat the story of the day. “Hermann, how was it then? Even though we were ahead 4-0, we still lost. How could you do that?” Gerland, exhausted, continued to do so, even though he spoke repeatedly.

Bayern manager Detmar Kramer labeled the game a “game of open goals”, and it was. Bochum started off like a whirlwind and played well, and should have scored more goals in the first half. But miraculously, the first half ended 3-0. Bayern striker Gerd Müller sat in the dressing room after scoring five goals in Tennis’ win over Borussia Berlin a week ago, with nothing but mocking and dry laughter about himself and his team: “Let them score a fourth goal and we You can start!”

And indeed, at minute 53 it happened. VfL made it 4-0, but then Bochum’s glory came to an abrupt end. Overwhelmed by the emotions and confidence of a secure lead, all VfL players wanted to score a goal. This was a combination that led to disaster. Just 10 minutes later, Bayern had reduced the lead to 4-3. “We kept shouting at the back to the rest of the players to come back, but they were all happy to go for the fifth goal,” recalled Hermann Gerland. Surprisingly, less than 20 minutes after Bochum’s fourth goal, Bayern went back up 5-4.

The next day’s newspapers described it as “Bochum’s football thriller – the only official Bundesliga game”, and manager Heinz Hör was confident: “We will never experience anything like this again.” Bochum again tied the score at 5-5, but in the final moments of madness, Uli Hoeness scored the winning goal. “4-0 to 5-6! No one can handle this kind of football. Bochum v Bayern was the football battle of the year,” said one newspaper.