Welcome back to the Get German Football News advent calendar. As the countdown to Christmas continues, so does our festive fun on day five, as we take a trip down memory lane and remember the 5th of December 1997.
On this day, newly promoted Kaiserslautern welcomed reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich to the Fritz-Walter-Stadion. However, this was no ordinary battle; despite having only just returned to Germany’s top flight, Kaiserslautern found themselves in pole position, four points ahead of Der Rekordmeister on matchday 18.
After a shock 1-0 win at the Olympiastadion on the opening day, Die Roten Teufel continued to surprise the whole of German football during the 1997/98 campaign. As the Hinrunde came to a close, Bayern came back for revenge and with the opportunity to tighten the gap at the Bundesliga’s summit.
However, Kaiserslautern were in no rush to give up their impressive lead. On the stroke of halftime, a Dietmar Hamann own goal put the hosts in front before Marian Hristov’s late second condemned Bayern to a 2-0 defeat on Kaiserslautern soil.
It was a victory that extended Lautern’s lead to seven points, as the dream became more of a reality. At the end of the season, it was the newly promoted side lifting the Meisterschale aloft, and to this day, it is the only time this achievement has been accomplished.
GGFN | Will Shopland
