1. FC Heidenheim vs. Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund travels to 1. FC Heidenheim, which is still without points, as the clear favorite, but the previous encounters between the two teams have always been close affairs. While Frank Schmidt’s team remains in 17th place in the table after two defeats, BVB under Niko Kovač is in a much more solid position with four points. The starting positions could hardly be more different: Heidenheim lost 2-0 to RB Leipzig in their last game and are still waiting for their first win of the season, while Dortmund responded to a disappointing 3-3 draw with St. Pauli with a confident 3-0 win over Union Berlin, with Guirassy scoring twice to underline his early form in front of goal. In four Bundesliga encounters, Dortmund have won twice and drawn twice, with BVB most recently winning 2-1 in February. Kovač is still without several regulars: Schlotterbeck has returned to team training but is unlikely to be ready, while Brandt, Can, and Süle are definitely out. The hosts are also missing key players in Pieringer, Feller, and Rothweiler. Bookmakers give the Black and Yellows a more than 60 percent chance of winning.
- Venue: Voith Arena, Heidenheim an der Brenz
- Date and time: September 13, 2025, 3:30 p.m.
- Competition: Bundesliga (Matchday 3)
Heidenheim form & record check
Heidenheim are without points after two Bundesliga matchdays and find themselves in an early crisis situation in 17th place in the table. SC Freiburg, who are level on points, are the only team separating Frank Schmidt’s team from the bottom of the table, while they are already one point behind the safety zone. The start of the season has been sobering: a 3-1 home defeat to Wolfsburg was followed by an even more emphatic 2-0 loss at RB Leipzig before the international break. In Leipzig, a familiar pattern emerged, with Heidenheim initially holding their own, but conceding the decisive 1-0 goal to Baumgartner after the break and finally being left behind by Rômulo in the closing stages. The last five games in all competitions have seen more goals than expected. Heidenheim have scored in four of their five games, but have also conceded goals on a regular basis. This offensive approach could indicate that Schmidt is letting his team play more courageously in order to make up for lost points. The personnel situation remains tense: in addition to the long-term injured Feller, Rothweiler and the important attacker Pieringer are also missing with unclear return forecasts. Schmidt must therefore rely on proven players such as Zivzivadze and Kaufmann, who already played in Leipzig and are now in demand.
Frank Schmidt is likely to field his Heidenheim team in the usual 4-2-3-1 formation. Personnel concerns remain considerable: Pieringer is still out with his ankle injury, which poses challenges for Schmidt in attack. Kaufmann could therefore be preferred to Zivzivadze as the striker. Ramaj will probably be given the nod in goal. The defense, with Mainka and Gimber in central defense and Busch and Föhrenbach on the flanks, seems set. In defensive midfield, the duo of Kerber and Dorsch could provide stability, while Beck, Ibrahimovic, and Honsak are expected to provide the attacking impetus.
Dortmund form & record check
Borussia Dortmund are in decent shape after a bumpy start to the season. With four points from two Bundesliga games, BVB are in 4th place in the table, just two points behind the leaders. After a weak 3-3 start at St. Pauli, where they squandered a 3-1 lead, they responded convincingly against Union Berlin. The 3-0 home win against Union was a clear sign of strength. Guirassy scored twice and underlined his goal-scoring prowess, while Nmecha put the icing on the cake. The offense under Kovač already seems to be gelling, even if the defense was still shaky at the start of the season. The last five games have brought three wins and only one defeat. However, BVB has considerable personnel worries. Schlotterbeck, Can, Süle, Brandt, and Duranville are all key players who are currently unavailable. Schlotterbeck has returned to training after his meniscus injury, but it is still too early for him to play. On the other hand, new signing Anselmino surprised everyone with a strong debut against Union, having only been signed four days earlier. Their away form gives cause for optimism: Dortmund are unbeaten in five away games across two seasons. Their last away defeat was back in March. Kovač will want to build on this run, especially as the team has been scoring consistently in recent weeks and showing plenty of potential in attack.
Coach Kovač is likely to field his tried-and-tested 3-4-2-1 formation, although he will be without several key regulars. Nico Schlotterbeck has returned to team training but is not yet ready for full fitness. Julian Brandt is still out with a broken wrist, while Emre Can is sidelined with adductor problems. Aaron Anselmino could get another chance in the back three. The Chelsea loanee made a strong debut in the 3-0 win over Union Berlin and, according to Kovač, is set to start in the coming games. There are several options available in midfield with Sabitzer, Bellingham, and Groß, while the trio of Adeyemi, Beier, and Guirassy could provide some goal-scoring threat up front.
H2H Heidenheim – Dortmund Head-to-head comparison & statistics
The encounters between Heidenheim and Borussia Dortmund are still quite recent, but already show a clear trend. In the last four encounters, FCH has yet to emerge victorious, while BVB has won twice and drawn twice. The pattern of the encounters is clear: the two highest-scoring games took place in Dortmund. In September 2024, BVB won 4-2, while in September 2023, the first encounter ended 2-2. The home games in Heidenheim were much more competitive and low-scoring. The most recent encounter in February 2025 is particularly noteworthy. After a goalless draw in February 2024, Heidenheim managed to score a goal this time, but lost narrowly 1-2. This shows a certain development of the Swabians against the favorites. BVB has proven to be the stronger team in this still young series, but has never really been able to dominate Heidenheim. Two draws and two narrow victories speak for the tenacity of the hosts, who have repeatedly been able to stand up to Dortmund’s attack.
While the bookmakers see Dortmund as the clear favorites with odds of 1.6, the real value lies in the goal markets. The recommendation “Both teams to score: Yes” at around 1.8 seems a solid bet given Heidenheim’s home strength in attack and Dortmund’s defensive concerns. All of Heidenheim’s Bundesliga games so far have already broken the three-goal mark, which justifies our tip of “Over 3.5 goals” at odds of around 2.4. Kovač can rely on Guirassy, who has scored in every competitive game under the new coach, while Schmidt is keeping his team focused on offense despite the two opening defeats. The second half is particularly appealing: Heidenheim becomes more courageous after the break, and with the Champions League clash against Juventus looming, Kovač is likely to bring on fresh players such as Adeyemi from the bench. The combination of Schmidt’s pressing and Dortmund’s quality in attack promises a high-scoring spectacle in which both defenses will come under pressure.
