RB Leipzig vs. 1. FC Heidenheim
The 6-0 debacle against Bayern Munich was a shock of the highest order for Leipzig under new coach Ole Werner, while Heidenheim put in a convincing performance, at least in phases, in their 3-1 defeat to Wolfsburg. On the second matchday of the Bundesliga, two teams will now face each other at the Red Bull Arena, both looking to pick up their first points of the season after their opening games. Harry Kane’s hat trick and goals from Olise and Díaz left the Saxons looking completely helpless, while Leo Scienza scored the equalizer for Heidenheim. The recent history speaks for itself: Leipzig has won four of the five Bundesliga matches against Heidenheim, with only February’s encounter ending in a 2-2 draw. Interestingly, despite the Bayern debacle, bookmakers see Leipzig as the clear favorites with a more than 70% chance of winning. With Timo Werner turning down offers from MLS and Serie A, Leipzig faces a personnel dilemma, while Frank Schmidt can rely on his experience after 19 years in office and has strengthened his squad once again with the signing of Leart Paqarada from 1. FC Köln.
- Venue: Red Bull Arena, Leipzig
- Date and time: August 30, 2025, 3:30 p.m.
- Competition: Bundesliga (Matchday 2)
Leipzig form & record check
RB Leipzig has had a less than successful start to the season and is already under enormous pressure after the first round. The devastating 0-6 defeat revealed deeper problems in defense and showed a team that seemed completely overwhelmed against top-class opponents. Munich was already leading 3-0 at halftime, and Leipzig seemed helpless in all areas of the team. Coach Ole Werner was forced to make substitutions during the break, bringing on Diomande for Nusa and Openda for Rômulo. The team’s 18th place in the table with zero points reflects its current form, even if there is no need to panic after just one matchday. However, the goal difference of minus six is problematic. Werder Bremen are level on points in 17th place, so the first home game against Heidenheim could already be decisive. The personnel situation further exacerbates the situation: Klostermann, Henrichs, Maksimovic, and Gomis are all key players who are out with injuries. Henrichs’ Achilles tendon rupture is a particularly bitter loss for the defense. Tidiam Gomis is not expected back until the end of August. The transfer situation surrounding Timo Werner is causing additional unrest, while speculation is circulating about Xavi Simons, who has reportedly attracted interest from Chelsea and Tottenham.
Leipzig are likely to line up in their usual 4-3-3 formation after their defeat to Bayern Munich. However, Ole Werner has a few personnel issues to deal with: Henrichs is still out with a torn Achilles tendon, and Klostermann and Maksimovic are also unavailable due to injury. The starting lineup could be as follows: Gulácsi in goal, with a back four of Baku, Orbán, Lukeba, and Raum. Schlager and Seiwald are set to start in midfield, with Simons potentially acting as the creative force. In attack, Bakayoko and Openda are likely to occupy the wings, while Diomande could take up the striker position. It will be interesting to see whether Werner plays any role at all, despite his negative attitude towards transfer offers. According to the club, the striker is unlikely to get much playing time. This could open up additional opportunities for younger players such as Diomande.
Heidenheim Form & Record Check
Heidenheim are already in trouble after the first matchday. The 1-3 defeat against Wolfsburg revealed familiar weaknesses in defense, while the offense was convincing at least in phases. Leo Scienza once again underlined his importance to the team with his goal to equalize. Parallel to the sporting challenges, there is a transfer saga surrounding Scienza himself. Southampton are said to have already agreed personal terms with the Brazilian, with the clubs still negotiating a transfer fee of around €6 million. The departure of the creative player would pose an enormous problem for Frank Schmidt. Personnel concerns are already getting out of hand: Marvin Pieringer and Thomas Keller, two important players, are out with injuries, while Sirlord Conteh is absent for personal reasons. Frank Feller is still unavailable after tearing his cruciate ligament. These absences are forcing Schmidt to make tactical adjustments. On a positive note, Leart Paqarada has been signed from 1. FC Köln. The experienced left-back is expected to fill the gap left by Frans Krätzig’s departure and bring stability with his Bundesliga experience.
Coach Frank Schmidt is likely to stick with his tried-and-tested 3-4-2-1 formation, which proved successful on the first matchday against Wolfsburg. With Ramaj in goal and a back three of Siersleben, Gimber, and Mainka, the defense should be solid. However, things are looking problematic in attack: the valuable Marvin Pieringer is still out with an ankle injury, and Sirlord Conteh is also unavailable. This could see Zivzivadze take up the striker role again, supported by Ibrahimovic and Scienza in the attacking midfield positions. The situation surrounding Leo Scienza remains exciting. Reports speak of advanced negotiations with Southampton, but the Brazilian is likely to start once again. In midfield, Dorsch and Schöppner should form the central duo, while Busch and Föhrenbach will operate on the wings.
H2H Leipzig – Heidenheim Head-to-head comparison & statistics
RB Leipzig clearly dominates the head-to-head record against Heidenheim. The Saxons have won four of the last five meetings, with only February 2025 seeing both teams draw 2-2. This series clearly shows Leipzig’s superiority in this duel. The most recent encounters have been high-scoring games. At least three goals have been scored in the last three games. Leipzig scored in all five games, while Heidenheim was successful in three of the last encounters. Heidenheim has conceded at least one goal in all of its previous games. One might think that the Swabians have particular difficulty against the offensively strong Leipzig team. Incidentally, the last draw in February was the first draw ever between the two clubs. Previously, Leipzig had won all encounters, starting with a 3-1 victory in the 2nd Bundesliga in 2016.
The tip on “Both teams to score: Yes” seems particularly solid, as both Leipzig and Heidenheim have scored and conceded in over 80% of their recent games. Heidenheim has scored at least one goal in each of its last five games, while Leipzig’s defense has been weakened by the absences of Klostermann, Henrichs, and possibly Maksimovic. The bookmakers are touting Leipzig as the clear favorite at 1.4, but the defensive personnel situation suggests that the visitors will also be able to exploit their scoring threat. The second tip, “Over 1.5 goals – 1st half,” is based on impressive statistics: Leipzig has reached this mark in 80% of cases, Heidenheim in 100%. Under their long-time coach, Frank Schmidt’s team has developed into a side that creates danger early in the game. The riskier tip on “Over 3.5 goals” may seem daring at first glance, but both teams have also achieved a rate of 80% in this category in recent games. Considering that the betting markets list the away team at 7.0, there could well be value in the over goals here.
