On Thursday evening, 1.FC Heidenheim travel to Werder Bremen for the first leg of the Bundesliga relegation playoff.
Competing for the ultimate prize – Bundesliga football – the second division side should fancy their chances against struggling Werder, especially after toppling German giants Hamburger SV to reach the playoff.
But who are Heidenheim? Here’s a guide to everything you need to know ahead about the German minnows ahead of the playoff.
Everything You Need to Know About 1.FC Heidenheim Ahead of the Bundesliga Relegation Playoff
Heidenheim: A History
Football in Heidenheim dates back to 1846 with the formation of Heidenheimer SB, a sports association with representative teams across a variety of sports. Following numerous name changes and mergers 1.FC Heidenheim, as we know them today, were formed in 2007 and, over the last 13 seasons, have risen from the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg (Germany’s fifth tier) to become promotion chasers in the 2.Bundesliga.
Having spent the bulk of their history in the lower reaches of German football, Heidenheim’s minor silverware includes the 2013/14 3.Liga title, a Regionalliga Sud title (2008/09) and six Württemberg Cups.
This would be their first-ever top-flight experience should they achieve it. Third place in 2.Bundesliga is the highest they’ve reached in their history.
How Did They Reach the Playoffs?
Heidenheim left it late, beating Hamburger SV 2:1 in the penultimate round of fixtures to leapfrog the German giants into third place. Despite losing to Arminia Bielefeld on the last day of the season, Heidenheim secured the playoff berth by a single point as Hamburg were hammered 5:1 by Sandhausen.
The South German side finished the season on a healthy 55 points – 15 wins, 10 draws and 9 losses – and missed out on automatic promotion by just three points. Not bad for a side which only left the regional leagues a decade ago.
Star Players?
Lone striker Tim Kleindienst is irreplaceable. With 14 goals and six assists in 27 appearances, the 24-year old has been involved in 44% of Heidenheim’s goals. If he isn’t performing, Heidenheim aren’t scoring.
Veteran Marc Schnatterer leads the club with seven assists from the right-wing and is another forward player whose performance could be crucial in the outcome of this relegation playoff.
Kevin Müller has been outstanding in goal this campaign. Ever-present in the league, the German conceded just 36 goals in 34 matches, a record bettered only by champions Arminia Bielefeld. It will be a tough ask to keep Bremen quiet but one that is very plausible with Müller between the sticks.
Finally, the ace in the pack, super-sub Stefan Schimmer. Coming on as a late substitute in 23 of his 24 appearances, Schimmer is Heidenheim’s third-highest scorer with six goals in under 600 minutes. Entering the field at the death if anyone is going to score the decisive goal it’s him.
Form Guide
Heidenheim have picked up 14 points from nine matches since the restart, including that all-important victory against Hamburg. However, their form home and away this season is as different as night and day.
Heidenheim are unbeaten in 12 matches at the Voith Arena and have only lost at home twice all season. By contrast, they are yet to register a win on the road post-lockdown and have scored just one goal away from home in their last six matches.
Limiting their losses on Thursday night is crucial. If they can walk out at fortress Heidenheim on Monday only a goal or two down, then an upset could be on the cards.
Head to Head
The Weser-Stadion will be familiar territory for Schmidt’s men having travelled to Bremen in the second round of this season’s DFB-Pokal. Unfortunately, it was the Bundesliga side who triumphed, scoring four goals in 35 minutes in a 4-1 mauling.
The two sides have only met once before this season, again in the cup with Heidenheim – plying their trade in the 3.Liga – pulling off a first-round upset with a 2-1 home victory back in 2011.
Summary
The 2019/20 playoff match-up is a David and Goliath affair. Mighty Werder Bremen, 1900 matches and 56 seasons of Bundesliga football under their belt, versus tiny 1.FC Heidenheim, a regional side punching above their weight in the second tier.
If Saturday’s match against Cologne is anything to go by, Bremen should breeze through the playoff. However, given their poor home form and patchy performances this season, we could have a giant-killing on our hands.
Heidenheim Facts
Name: 1.FC Heidenheim 1846
Manager: Frank Schmidt
2019/20 league position: 3rd, 2.Bundesliga
Stadium: Voith Arena (15,000 capacity)
Kit: Red and white striped shirt, red shorts
Bundesliga relegation playoff 2019/20
First leg: July 2nd – Werder Bremen vs 1.FC Heidenheim (19:30)
Second leg: July 6th – 1.FC Heidenheim vs Werder Bremen (19:30)
Main Photo
