FC Heidenheim – 1.FC Köln
Our Heidenheim – Cologne betting tip is: Double chance: Heidenheim/X – 1.53 odds
- Heidenheim have lost only one of their last eight games
- Heidenheim have only conceded five defeats at home
- Cologne have only won once away from home
The time has come. The Bundesliga final is upon us and the last remaining decisions will be made this Saturday. While Europe is still at stake in the middle of the table, the relegation battle is also still in full swing. The main focus is on Cologne, who will travel to Heidenheim on the final matchday in a bid to pull off a miracle and avoid relegation.
The Rhinelanders have been clinging on to the hope of not being relegated for weeks and sent out further signs of life last weekend with their win against Union Berlin. They will have to do their homework and then hope for some help from SC Freiburg, who face Berlin in a parallel match.
Heidenheim also still have something to play for. They are still a candidate for eighth place, which could potentially be enough to qualify for the Conference League. They will therefore also be looking ahead to the parallel match in Berlin, as they need to make up three points and four goals on Freiburg.
Heidenheim – Cologne info
- Date & Time: 18.05.2024, 3:30 pm
- Playing venue: Voith-Arena, Heidenheim
- Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 34
- TV broadcast/livestream: Sky
Heidenheim Form & Balance Check
The newly promoted club played a more than solid season and consolidated its position in mid-table for months. Nobody would have believed before the season that they would still be playing for a place in the European Cup in the season finale. FCH are characterized by extremely solid and focused play and have shown a level of consistency that is unusual for a promoted team.
They have only lost one of their last eight games and have scored against Bayern and VfB Stuttgart, among others. With 39 points, the team is currently ninth in the table, level on points with FC Augsburg. The coveted eighth place, which would be enough to qualify for the Conference League if Bayer Leverkusen were to win the DFB Cup final, is three points away
Final without head coach
Heidenheim will have to make do without their head coach Frank Schmidt in their season finale. An operation on his ankle, which had been planned for some time and was not possible at any other time according to the club, will prevent the 50-year-old from being on the sidelines. He will be replaced by his assistant coach Bernhard Raab, who has already been in charge of match preparation and training during the week.
Whether this absence will have an impact on the performance or not remains to be seen. A missed opportunity to finish eighth would certainly be a bitter pill to swallow. In addition to a Freiburg defeat in the parallel match, Heidenheim also need a few goals to make up the goal difference of four goals
Heidenheim facts & analysis
- ninth place in the table
- Last match draw
- Only one defeat from the last eight games
Cologne Form & Balance Check
Cologne still believe and will give everything they have in this duel. They have had one foot in League Two for several weeks now, but have so far managed to keep their heads just above water. Now, however, it’s do-or-die for the Billy Goats, as only a win can save Cologne from the relegation places.
The team is currently 17th in the table and, with 27 points, is three points behind 16th place. In addition to a three-pointer of their own, they also need a defeat for Berlin and to make up four goals on Köpenick. FC have not lost in three games and have collected five points in the process
Cologne madness against Berlin
Five minutes before the end of the game, Cologne were as good as relegated on the final matchday. Berlin were leading 2:1 and tears could already be seen in the eyes of the fans. But then the Rhinelanders turned up the heat and actually managed to win.
With goals from Steffen Tigges and Domion Downs in the 87th and 92nd minutes, the stadium shook and Cologne managed to postpone the disaster once again. Coach Timo Schultz’s team will now want to take this momentum into the clash with Heidenheim and we expect an FC that will fight until the last minute
Cologne facts & analysis
- 17th place in the table
- Last game won
- Only one defeat from the last eight games
We expect Heidenheim to play in a 4-3-3 system again, with midfielder Kevin Sessa playing in a more attacking midfield three. Compared to the last match against Freiburg, we expect an almost identical line-up. Only Lennard Maloney could push Norman Theuerkauf back onto the bench. The attacking line-up of Tim Kleindienst, Jan-Niklas Beste and Eren Dinkçi remains unchanged.
We expect Cologne to play in their 4-2-3-1 system with full offensive power. In defense, Dominique Heinz could replace Max Finkgräfe, who was injured during the week. We also expect three more new players in the starting line-up with Mark Uth, Jacob Christensen and Tigges. Downs and Linton Maina are options from the bench.
Heidenheim – Cologne head-to-head & stats
Heidenheim vs Cologne has not been played very often in history. The clubs have only faced each other three times in their history, with the first leg of this season being the first meeting in the German top flight. In that game, the teams drew 1-1, a result that would not have been enough for either side on this matchday. The goals were scored by Davie Selke for Cologne and Adrian Beck for Heidenheim. In the 2018/2019 season, there were two duels in the Bundesliga 2. In addition to another draw, the Rhinelanders won one match. Cologne were promoted to the Bundesliga that season
Direct comparison (H2H)
