"Although there was nothing more to play for, we didn't want to ease off," said Schmidt before continuing: "My team was full of enthusiasm for the game and they scored some great goals."
Boosted by that victory, the Werkself will be looking to make up ground in the Bundesliga away to Schalke on Sunday (17.30 CET). "For me, it's one of the most attractive away games," said Schmidt before recalling two good matches in Gelsenkirchen in the past two seasons. In April of this year, his team won 3-2 and in 2015 Karim Bellarabi scored the only goal of the game in the 1-0 win at Schalke.
Hunting for points
"It'll be another good game of football on Saturday," promised Schmidt before adding: "We want to get a result." Results have been a big disappointment in recent weeks. "We're on track, we’ve played lots of good games after the match at Lotte – however with differing results," said Schmidt. That should all change now.
"We have to concentrate on the next game and if we go on a run then the table will look different," said Schmidt. At the moment, his team is ninth in the Bundesliga on 17 points – level with eighth-placed Schalke.
The second international break of the 2025/26 season will begin after the Bundesliga match against Union Berlin (Saturday, 4 October, 15:30 CEST). The latest information on call-ups.
Show moreAlejo Sarco and Argentina won their second group match at the U20 World Cup in Chile on Wednesday night. They beat Australia 4-1 with Sarco setting the tone early with a goal in the third minute. As in the first group game against Cuba, where Sarco scored twice, the 19-year-old was also named "Player of the Match" against Australia.
Show moreSecond game, second draw in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26: The Werkself were held to a 1-1 draw by Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven on matchday two in the league phase. After an early but brief setback in the form of an offside goal by Ivan Perisic for the visitors (5'), the Werkself took control and created numerous good chances in the first half. Leverkusen took a deserved lead after the break in the 65th minute through Christian Kofane. However, PSV's Ismael Saibari replied a few minutes later to level at 1-1 (72').
Show moreIn the second match in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26, the Werkself host PSV Eindhoven this Wednesday evening, 1 October (kick-off: 21:00 CEST/live on DAZN and on Werkself Radio). PSV have injury problems but are in confident mood after winning two consecutive league titles. PSV coach Peter Bosz and keeper Matej Kovar are two familiar faces who have fond memories of their Bayer 04 days. The latest information on the UCL match at the BayArena can be found in out matchday news.
Show moreBayer 04 beat PSV Eindhoven 3-2 on matchday two to clock up the next three points in the UCL Youth League 2025/26. In front of just under 500 spectators at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium, the visitors from the Netherlands led at half-time, but the Werkself turned the game round in the second 45. That makes it two wins on the bounce after the victory in Copenhagen.
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