14.04.2026Bayer 04

Build-up to Augsburg game - Badé striving for maximum with the Werkself

Bayer 04 are unbeaten in the last seven league games and recently picked up an important away win at Borussia Dortmund. The Werkself will be looking to build on that determined and disciplined display next Saturday, 18 April (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), at home to FC Augsburg. With a third win in a row, head coach Kasper Hjulmand's team could build up further pressure in the race for Champions League qualification. Defender Loïc Badé spoke of "big goals" with regard to the season run-in after the training session on Tuesday 14 April - probably the most emotional date in Leverkusen's club history.

As captain Robert Andrich clicked through social media on Tuesday morning, memories of 14 April 2024 came flooding back. "I'll never forget the incredible pictures taken on that day. Somehow everything fell into place back then," said the 31-year-old after an intensive open training session in the morning in bright sunshine watched with excitement by numerous Bayer 04 fans.

Around 20 of them were children from the Steinberg day-care centre in Leverkusen-Steinbüchel, many of them wearing the jerseys of champion players such as Edmond Tapsoba, Patrik Schick and Florian Wirtz. "We were here last year. The children ask almost every day when we're going back to training," explained Ronja Hennig. Together with her colleague Katharina Schneider, the educational specialist at the day-care centre took the children to the Fanwelt before the training session, where a photo with the championship trophy was of course a must on this special day.

Hennig watched the home game against Werder Bremen on television with her family: "On Monday, the day after, we organised a championship celebration at the day-care centre, looked at the photos of from the game and all sang the club songs together." Special moments and memories that are more alive than ever on this second anniversary at the BayArena.

on a roll going into next important game

Loïc Badé, who played with his team-mates last weekend in the 1-0 win in Dortmund without conceding a goal, shred his assessment after the training session. The 26-year-old Frenchman spoke to the media about "big goals: We want to get into the Champions League and also maximise our chances in the Pokal. In the league, we're not looking at our possible chances, we just want to win every game."

Badé is also happy to be able to play a full part again after several weeks out injured. Above all, the winning performance at BVB "was important for self-confidence. Now it's time to move on step by step." The next step comes on Saturday at home to FC Augsburg.

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