When Werder brought SSC Napoli to their knees

Diego Maradona could only sit at the middle line of Weser Stadium and shake his head. The Argentinean superstar could not do anything to stop his SSC Napoli side from being eliminated from the third round of the UEFA Cup. The Italian superstar team with greats like Gianfranco Zola, Careca, de Napoli and Diego Maradona could not beat Werder in the first leg or the return leg.

Werder meanwhile didn't have names like Maradona but instead featured players named Jonny Otten, Karl-Heinz Riedle and Wynton Rufer. And that trio provided plenty of celebrations in the first leg. Otten and Riedle pushed the Green-Whites ahead before the Italians equalised on goals by Alemao and Careca. But Rufer scored the winning goal in the final minute of a 3-2 victory - giving them a great starting position for the return leg in Bremen.

But Otto Rehhagel's team did not go into the game two weeks later in Weser Stadium slowly. After about an hour, Werder led 3-0 on two goals by Riedle and a score by Rufer. And the Green-Whites fans were out of control in joy - which didn't change at all after Careca cut the deficit to 3-1. When libero Gunnar Sauer looped his goal over keeper Giuliani and Dieter Eilts made it 5-1, the walkover was complete. Fans stormed onto the pitch and reporter Rolf Töpperwien interviewed Rehhagel on the pitch. "Napoli have Alemao - I have the East Frisian Alemao," Rehhagel said referring to Dieter Eilts. And Diego Maradona? He could only sit stunned at the middle line.

Werder advanced to the UEFA Cup semi-finals where they were eliminated after two draws on fewer away goals against Fiorentina.

UEFA Cup, Round of 32, Season 1989-90

Napoli, 22 November 1989, Stadio San Paolo
SSC Napoli - Werder Bremen 2-3 (0-1)
SSC Napoli: Giuliani - Renica (46' Mauro), Ferrara, Baroni, Francini, de Napoli, Fusi, Maradonna, Alemao (68' Corradini), Careca, Carnevale
Werder: Reck - Bratseth, Borowka, Otten, Bockenfeld, Eilts, Votava, Neubarth (69' Wolter), Hermann, Riedle, Rufer
Goals: 0-1 Frank Neubarth (42'), 0-2 Karlheinz Riedle (46'), 1-2 Alemao (52'), 2-2 Careca (65'), 2-3 Rufer (90')
Referee: Bo Karlsson (Sweden)
Spectators: 50,000

Bremen, 06 December 1989, Weser Stadium
Werder Bremen - SSC Napoli 5-1 (1-0)
Werder: Reck - Bratseth (77' Sauer), Borowka, Otten, Bockenfeld (84' Wolter), Votava, Neubarth, Eilts, Hermann, Riedle, Rufer
SSC Napoli: Giuliani - Corradini, Ferrara, Baroni (46' Carnevale), Francini, de Napoli, Zola (59' Renica), Fusi, Maradonna, Crippa, Careca
Goals: 1-0 Karlheinz Riedle (25'), 2-0 Wynton Rufer (55'), 3-0 Karlheinz Riedle (62'), 3-1 Careca (71'), 4-1 Gunnar Sauer (88'), 5-1 Dieter Eilts (90')
Referee: Soriano Aladren (Spain)
Spectators: 38,500

Ein grünes Wunder - Werders 5:3 über Anderlecht
Pokale und Meisterschalen - Titeljahr an der Weser
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