Bayer Leverkusen – 1. FC Heidenheim 1846
Sunday’s matchday 5 of the Bundesliga is completely dominated by the German participants in the Europa League and the Conference League. The team that is perhaps currently in the best form in the top flight will start the match. The Werkself, however, is hosting a team that has nothing to lose in this duel. Our Leverkusen – Heidenheim tip will tell you whether the men under the Bayerkreuz will leave the field as winners again.
In any case, the record speaks clearly in favour of the Werkself. In the first games of the season, Leverkusen were almost always convincing on a complete level and are still unbeaten in the season. Bayer 04 also fought their way to a draw in their last Bundesliga encounter with FC Bayern. On Thursday in the Europa League, the Werkself also recorded a commanding 4:0 victory.
The upcoming opponents from Heidenheim, however, are doing more than well in the first Bundesliga season in their history. After coach Frank Schmidt’s men had to pay a lot of dues in the first two games of the season, Heidenheim picked up four points in the last two games against Dortmund and Bremen.
Leverkusen – Heidenheim info:
- Date & Time: 24.09.2023, 15:30 Uhr
- Game venue: BayArena, Leverkusen
- Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 5
- TV broadcast: DAZN
Leverkusen Form & Balance Check
Since coach Xabi Alonso took over the Werkself on matchday nine of pre-season, things have gone steadily uphill for Bayern 04. The upward trend then led to a sixth-place finish at the end of the season and thus qualification for Europe once again. This season, however, Leverkusen have been operating on a whole new level.
The Werkself got off to an outstanding start in the new season, winning the first three Bundesliga games without any major problems. And in the top match in Munich the previous week, Bayer 04 also sold themselves very well and earned a well-deserved 2:2 equaliser in injury time. Before the fifth matchday, the men under the Bayer cross are still at the top of the table.
New ones hit the ground running
In the previous season, Moussa Diaby was probably the defining face of the Werkself, contributing an impressive nine goals and nine assists in the Bundesliga. However, with the Frenchman now shining at Aston Villa in the Premier League, other players will be called upon to step to the fore in the new season.
The newcomers at Bayer Leverkusen, however, do not seem to shy away from the limelight at all. All of the Werkself’s newcomers have been convincing on the pitch so far. Granit Xhaka directs the midfield, while Alejandro Grimaldo shone with, among other things, an impressive goal to equalise 1-1 in Munich. Jonas Hofmann, meanwhile, is consistently providing assists and has already recorded three in the league, while Boniface is the Werkself’s top scorer, with a total of four goals in the Bundesliga.
Leverkusen facts & analysis
- Leaders of the Bundesliga
- Played 2-2 against Bayern in the previous week
- Won 4:0 against Häcken in the Europa League
Heidenheim form & balance check
RB Leipzig managed to rise from the fifth-class Oberliga to the Bundesliga within seven years. Within 20 years, 1. FC Heidenheim also achieved this feat, but without the million-dollar support of a brewery corporation. The first Bundesliga season in the club’s history is therefore something very special for the men from the Ostalb.
And so far, coach Frank Schmidt’s team has done very well in the top flight. In the first games, Heidenheim always held their own against Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim, but still went home without any points. But since the 2:2 in Dortmund at the latest, the FCH has finally arrived in the Bundesliga. In the previous week, Heidenheim then also picked up their first win in Bundesliga history against Bremen.
A loan move hits home
In total, Heidenheim won 4-2 against SVW the previous week. The best Bremen player on the pitch, however, wore the jersey of the hosts from the Ostalb. Eren Dinkci moved from the Weser to the Brenz in the summer and scored two goals directly against his actual employer.
In the first five competitive games for Heidenheim, the German-Turk has already scored four goals and made one assist. The 21-year-old is getting along extremely well with coach Frank Schmidt’s system and is already very well attuned to the rest of the team. As the season progresses, Dinkci would certainly like to add one or two more goals to his tally.
Heidenheim facts & analysis
- In 11th place in the Bundesliga table
- Won 4:2 against Bremen in their last match
- Reigning champions of the 2nd Bundesliga
Predicted line-up – last update on 24 September 2023
After Leverkusen operated with a 4-2-2-2 in the Europa League during the week, we expect the Werkself back with the three-man backline against Heidenheim. Compared to the Bayern game, we expect almost no changes in the starting line-up of the Werkself. Only Exequiel Palacios will probably rotate back into the starting eleven.
However, we expect the visitors from the Ostalb to play in the 4-2-2-2 that Leverkusen played during the week. The double forward will again consist of Kleindienst and Pieringer. On-loan Dinkci, meanwhile, will once again provide a scoring threat down the right
Leverkusen – Heidenheim direct comparison & Statistics
Heidenheim and Leverkusen have only met once before in an official competition. In the round of 16 of the 2018/19 DFB Cup, the then second-division side recorded a 2-1 victory, despite an early goal from Julian Brandt. Nikola Dovedan and Maurice Multhaup were the goalscorers from the Ostalb on that occasion.
- Leverkusen still without a win against Heidenheim
- The first duel of the two teams in league play
- Leverkusen win 42% of halves, Heidenheim win 48%
