After three years in the Bundesliga, 1. FC Heidenheim’s top-flight status could end this weekend—or the season could go down to a dramatic finale. Long dismissed as dead certs for the drop, Heidenheim have staged a remarkable fightback, losing just once in their last six matches, including a 3-3 draw at champions Bayern Munich.
On Sunday (5:30 PM/DAZN), the league’s bottom side travel to 1. FC Cologne knowing only a win will keep their survival hopes alive. For the miracle to happen, Heidenheim must triumph while St. Pauli lose at RB Leipzig (3:30 PM) and VfL Wolfsburg fall to Bayern Munich (6:30 PM/both Sky) on Saturday. That would send all three relegation-threatened teams into the final matchday locked on 26 points.
Coach Frank Schmidt remains optimistic: “If we win this game and go into the last matchday with everything still to play for, we’ll be ready for it,” he says. The twist? On matchday 34, St. Pauli and Wolfsburg face each other, guaranteeing one of them drops points, while Heidenheim host already-safe Mainz 05 at home.
Wolfsburg boss Dieter Hecking, aware of Bayern’s recent wobbles—4-3 at Mainz and 3-3 against Heidenheim—demands a “top-top-top performance” from his side. For Heidenheim, the stakes are clear: lose, and the lights go out for good.
Interwetten ambassador Lothar Matthäus doesn’t see the trio finishing level. Germany’s record cap-holder predicts three defeats this weekend:
1. FC Cologne 2-0 1. FC Heidenheim
RB Leipzig 2-0 FC St. Pauli
VfL Wolfsburg 1-3 Bayern Munich
Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
FC Augsburg 1-1 Borussia Mönchengladbach
TSG Hoffenheim 2-1 Werder Bremen
VfB Stuttgart 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen
Hamburger SV 1-1 SC Freiburg
FSV Mainz 05 2-1 Union Berlin
