
On Tuesday afternoon, a group of 20 children, including Bayer 04 mascot Brian the Lion, made their way to the press conference room at the BayArena. They were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the two Germany internationals Robert Andrich and Jonas Hofmann. Then the door opened and the Bayer 04 players were greeted with loud applause.
A barrage of questions followed introductions. There was a big surprise at the beginning with the question on Hoffmann's passion of building Lego. The cheerful offensive player responded: "My favourite range is Star Wars, yesterday I finished building the Imperial Star Destroyer."
Andrich explained his hidden talents: "I like to sing and dance." The 29-year-old let the children know he most likes spending his free time with his family and that he takes his child to nursery before training. Andrich also revealed with a smile what he was thinking when he made his assist for the opening goal against Bayern Munich: "I just crossed it without looking."







In addition, the children wanted to know which teammates the two of them got on best with. Andrich: "We all get on really well in the team. Of course, it’s easier for us to get on with the ones who speak the same language. It's usually like that."
Hofmann revealed his first Bundesliga goal is his favourite and he rates teammate Andrich's "sometimes mad clothes and hair." Hofmann added with a wink, "Rob is sometimes really funny." In response to the question whether both players have a nutritionist, the 31-year-old Hofmann replied: "A healthy diet is very important as an athlete and we have a nutritionist here at the club. When you win a game you sometimes obviously drink and eat something that's perhaps a little less healthy." (laughs)






After the questions, the two players took time out for a group photograph and numerous requests for autographs. Then it was down to football with some of the children showing Andrich and Hoffman tricks, which the duo then copied. The Werkself players left to happy faces all round.

Bayer 04 have fond memories of their encounters with Heidenheim, including a resounding 6-0 win in the reverse fixture. Kasper Hjulmand’s side would very much like to produce a similarly clinical display as they now head to the Voith-Arena for Matchday 27 on Saturday (15:30 CET). But they come up against a team fighting for their Bundesliga lives at the bottom of the table, 10 points adrift of safety with time running out. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action this weekend. Following their elimination in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, the Werkself are away to FC Heidenheim 1846 on Saturday, 21 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET) on Bundesliga matchday 27. Ahead of the clash in the eastern Swabian Alps, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the importance of the fixture and the chances of qualifying for the Champions League next term.
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A quick look at the table shows the situation at FC Heidenheim is serious. The Bundesliga bottom club are already ten points behind the play-off spot with their backs to the wall in sporting terms. With eight games left to play, avoiding relegation appears to be a mission impossible. Nevertheless, they are far from flying the white flag at the Schlossberg ahead of the clash with the Werkself this Saturday, 21 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET). The lowdown on our next opponents.
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