Abstract: A flat gasket, e.g. a cylinder head gasket of an internal combustion engine is described, which has through openings with metallic U-borders. The outer surface of at least one of the U-legs is provided with a structure that allows a residual quantity of an impregnating agent with which the soft material of the gasket is impregnated, to remain adhering in such a uniform manner that, after crosslinking, an adequate microsealing and macrosealing is ensured. In the unloaded state, as a result of the surface tension of the impregnating agent, the structure ensures that said agent continues to adhere in finely divided form with a convex meniscus.