fcbayern.com takes a look back at some of the most legendary knockout matches between 1981 and 1990 with finals, cup battles and unforgettable goals.
22.04.1981: Bayern – Liverpool
Despite losing neither leg, Bayern’s 1980/81 European Cup campaign was ended in the semi-finals. After a 0-0 draw at Anfield, which Pal Csernai’s side could have easily turned into a victory, FCB went out on away goals to eventual champions Liverpool following a 1-1 draw in Munich on 22 April. In a hard-fought match, Bayern finally breached the Merseyside defences in the 88th minute thanks to a lovely goal from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. However, it was too late at the Olympiastadion following Ray Kennedy’s strike seven minutes earlier, which ultimately sent the English club through to the final.
01.05.1982: Bayern – Nürnberg
On 1 May 1982, Bayern faced Bavarian rivals 1. FC Nürnberg at the Waldstadion in Frankfurt in the final of the DFB Cup. It was a match that would go down in FCB folklore for the fighting spirit the team showed. Nürnberg held a 2-0 lead at half-time and looked destined to lift the cup, but Bayern fought their way back into the tie and set about turning the game on its head. Symbolic of FCB’s desire to win that day was Dieter Hoeneß, who had collided with opponent Alois Reinhardt in the 13th minute and suffered a gaping wound. Yet he played on until the end with bandages, even scoring the final goal to round off a 4-2 win after Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Wolfgang Kraus and Paul Breitner had begun the turnaround. And, of course, his goal had to be a header.
26.05.1982: Aston Villa – Bayern
Bayern went into the 1982 European Cup final against Aston Villa as clear favourites. To make matters even worse for the English club, they lost their goalkeeper to injury inside 10 minutes, meaning Nigel Spink, who hadn’t played a league game all season, came on – and he saved everything that came his way. Spink was busy because Bayern were playing well on that 26 May. Yet it wasn’t enough for the Munich side. The attack of Paul Breitner and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge simply couldn’t find a way through that evening in Rotterdam, missing great chance after great chance. The FCB defence did its job for large parts of the game, but one mistake proved costly, with Peter Withe netting the only goal of the match in the 67th minute for the club from Birmingham. “A malicious director couldn’t have written a worse script for us this season,” said coach Pal Csernai.
28.09.1983: Bayern – Anorthosis Famagusta
Few Bayern fans will remember the name Anorthosis Famagusta, but FCB wrote a little bit of club history against the Cypriot side in the first round of the UEFA Cup on 28 September 1983. The first leg in Larnaca, where the club had been forced to move, was a rather unspectacular 1-0 win for Bayern. But the return fixture was a veritable goal fest for the Munich club. When Klaus Augenthaler netted his third of the evening in the 80th minute, the Olympiastadion scoreboard moved into double figures as Anorthosis were beaten 10-0. It remains Bayern’s biggest European victory to date.
02.05.1984: Schalke – Bayern
Bayern have been involved in a number of legendary DFB Cup clashes, but the 1983/84 semi-final was perhaps the mother of all cup matches. Being drawn away at Schalke was supposedly the easiest possible tie, but the second-tier side could smell a cupset. The game ebbed and flowed, with the hosts cancelling out an early 2-0 Bayern lead inside 20 minutes. With just 10 minutes remaining, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge rescued FCB a 4-4 draw with his third goal to take the game to extra-time. Dieter Hoeneß then put the Reds ahead twice before 18-year-old Olaf Thon announced himself on the big stage. The later Bayern player beat Jean-Marie Pfaff for the third time that evening as the game eventually finished 6-6. There was no penalty shootout planned for the semi-final, so a replay was needed a week later, which Bayern won 3-2 to reach the final.
31.05.1984: Bayern – Borussia Mönchengladbach
That final would also be steeped in history. Lothar Matthäus’ upcoming move from Mönchengladbach to Bayern was in fact just a side note ahead of the 1984 DFB Cup final between the two clubs, but the later FCB legend would take centre stage in tragic fashion. The then 23-year-old had become a leader and Germany international with Gladbach, but his final kick for the club would eventually deliver Bayern the cup. Goals from Frank Mill and Wolfgang Dremmler meant there was no winner after 120 minutes and that the cup would be decided on penalties. Matthäus had the tough job of going first – and he missed. Klaus Augenthaler and Norbert Ringels would also fail from 12 yards as Bayern won the shootout 7-6.
03.05.1986: Bayern – VfB Stuttgart
One week after claiming the club’s ninth German league title in 1985/86, captain Klaus Augenthaler’s team would go on to lift the DFB Cup for the eighth time in Bayern’s history. It was the second domestic double for the club following 1969. Udo Lattek’s side left opponents VfB Stuttgart no chance in the final in Berlin, winning it 5-2 after Roland Wohlfarth’s first-half brace had put them on an early road to victory. Michael Rummenigge then bagged two himself after the break to extend the lead before Guido Buchwald got one back in the 76th minute for 4-1. Wohlfarth’s third restored the four-goal advantage. Jürgen Klinsmann netted the final goal of the game with five minutes remaining. With his 13th title, it made Lattek Europe’s most successful coach at the time.
08.04.1987: Bayern – Real Madrid
Real Madrid didn’t know what hit them in the first leg of the 1986/87 European Cup semi-final as Klaus Augenthaler, Lothar Matthäus and Roland Wohlfarth smashed Bayern into a 3-0 lead inside 37 minutes. It was too much for the proud Spaniards, whose frustration was soon released through forward Juanito when he intentionally stood on Matthäus’ face as he lay on the ground following a mass confrontation. He was sent off and subsequently banned for five European games. Matthäus would exact revenge in the perfect manner by wrapping up the 4-1 win himself following Butraguenos’ consolation strike. Juanito was remorseful after the game and apologised. Real couldn’t quite eradicate the performance in Munich in the return leg in Madrid, winning 1-0 but still sending Bayern through to the final in Vienna.
27.05.1987: Porto – Bayern
Bayern’s major aim in 1986/87 was to finally return to Europe’s summit. After the three consecutive European Cups between 1974 and 1976, FCB wanted to bring the trophy back to Munich for a fourth time when they faced Porto in front of 55,000 spectators in Vienna. Everything went to plan at the start for the favourites against the defensive Portuguese side, with Bayern taking the lead through Ludwig Kögl in the 25th minute. Porto improved after the break, though, as FCB lost their grip on the game. Rabah Madjer’s back-heel finish 12 minutes from time levelled the game, but things would get worse. Just two minutes later, substitute Juary would turn a Madjer cross over the line to put Porto 2-1 up. Bayern threw everything forwards in the closing minutes but couldn’t find a way through. It would be another 14 years before the Munich club would return to Europe’s summit.
07.12.1988: Inter Milan – Bayern
Bayern looked certain to be eliminated in the last 16 of the 1988/89 UEFA Cup against Inter Milan. The Italians boasted former FCB players Andreas Brehme and Lothar Matthäus, having left Munich only in the summer. On their return in the first leg, they claimed a 2-0 victory. It left Jupp Heynckes’ side with a mountain to climb at the San Siro. “No one believed we’d progress,” Klaus Augenthaler later said. Bayern had nothing to lose, and that’s how they played. Roland Wohlfarth put FCB ahead just after the half-hour mark. Just eight minutes later, captain Augenthaler and Jürgen Wegmann had overturned the first-leg deficit. However, Inter did manage to get one back before the break through Aldo Serena. What followed in the second half was a defensive masterclass. With the home support behind them, the Nerazzurri pushed forward, but the Bayern bulwark held firm thanks to inspired goalkeeper Raimond Aumann and a top defensive performance. The footballing miracle became a reality as FCB advanced to the next round.
19.08.1989: Eintracht Frankfurt – Bayern
Around 30 minutes had been played in the first-round tie between Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayern in August 1989 when Klaus Augenthaler, standing on the halfway line, noticed that goalkeeper Uli Stein was too far off his line. The FCB sweeper didn’t hesitate and fired the ball around 50 yards over the Eintracht defence and goalkeeper for the opening goal. It’s a goal that’s still remembered fondly over 30 years on and turned out to be the only one of the game as Bayern progressed. It would later be voted the goal of the century in Germany.
18.04.1990: Bayern – AC Milan
Bayern’s opponents in the semi-final of the 1989/90 European Cup were the star ensemble of defending champions AC Milan, featuring the likes of Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi. They claimed just a 1-0 win in the first leg, meaning Jupp Heynckes’ side had every chance in Munich. When young Thomas Strunz put Bayern ahead in the 58th minute, it looked like an upset could be on the cards at the Olympiastadion. The FCB faithful felt the final was within touching distance, but there were no more goals inside 90 minutes as the tie went to extra-time. A lob from Stefano Borgonovo in the 100th minute was a blow to Bayern hearts, but they kept fighting. Just eight minutes later, Manfred Bender’s cross into the box found Alan McInally to make it 2-1. That was how the game ended, meaning the Rossoneri advanced on away goals on their way to defending the title.
Read about Bayern’s most legendary knockout games of the 90s: