1. FC Heidenheim 1846 – Union Berlin
On Friday the Bundesliga starts into the 6th matchday in Kraichgau (for Hoffenheim – Dortmund tip). On Saturday, a duel will take place 111 kilometres to the south-east that is of enormous importance for both teams. On the Brenz, two teams meet that showed a negative trend in their last match. Find out which team will be more successful in reversing this trend in our Heidenheim – Union tip.
The men from the Ostalb suffered another defeat last weekend after two games in a row without a loss. Coach Frank Schmidt’s men had no chance against second-placed Leverkusen and lost 1:4.
Union, on the other hand, have lost their last four competitive matches. Another defeat would represent an unprecedented losing streak for the Köpenicker under coach Urs Fischer. Last week, the Eisernen even lost 0:2 to Hoffenheim at the Alte Försterei and slipped down to tenth place.
Heidenheim – Union Info:
- Date & Time: 30.09.2023, 15:30 hrs.
- Game venue: Voith Arena, Heidenheim
- Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 6
- TV broadcast: Sky
Heidenheim Form & Balance Check
Last July, 1. FC Heidenheim completed a spectacular promotion from the 2. Bundesliga to the top flight, after this had been hinted at for several years. At the beginning of the new season, however, coach Frank Schmidt’s men first paid a lesson.
In the first two Bundesliga games, the Heidenheim side put in solid performances, but ultimately came away with no points against both Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim. After that, however, two strong performances against Dortmund and Bremen followed, with a total of four points as a result. However, the Heidenheim side did not stand a chance against the Werkself recently.
Maloney against childhood sweetheart
Berlin-born Lennard Maloney, a product of the Union youth set-up between 2012 and 2020, is putting in impressive performances this season. Playing as a six-man for Heidenheim, he is the fastest runner of all Bundesliga players with 63.9 kilometres covered. In addition, the 23-year-old has completed the highest number in the entire Bundesliga with 470 intense runs.
In the first five games, Maloney established himself as a regular and has played 99 per cent of all possible minutes in the league so far. Against his former club, the young midfielder would now also like to score his first league goal for the men from the Brenz.
Heidenheim facts & analysis
- In 13th place in the Bundesliga table
- Lost 1:4 against Leverkusen in their last match
- Never conceded a goal in the Bundesliga
Union Form & Balance Check
The Ironmen from the east of the capital have yet to match last year’s effectiveness so far this season. The Unioners’ losing streak means that the Köpenickers have now even lost three league games in a row.
After six points from the first two games, FCU is stuck in tenth place in the middle of the table. Union also failed to put the ball in the opponent’s goal in the home match against TSG Hoffenheim the previous week and lost 0:2. And FCU also lost unluckily 1:0 at Real Madrid on their debut in the Champions League.
Luck is missing
In the past few years, Union has regularly been lucky in their games. A look at the past season underlines this view. If it were up to expected points, the team from Köpenick would only have finished 13th in the Bundesliga last season.
Especially in front of goal, the Eisern managed to live above their means. With an xG value of 35.07, the Eisernen would have the worst offence in the entire league, while Union actually scored 51 goals. Especially in the last two games, however, the luck seems to have reversed, as the Eisernen scored only one goal in total with an xG value of 3.79.
Union facts & analysis
- Placed 4th in the Bundesliga last season.
- Lost 0:2 against Hoffenheim in the previous week
- The best defence of the past Bundesliga season
Predicted line-up – last update on 28 September 2023
We expect 1. FC Heidenheim to play in a 4-2-3-1, as we have already seen in recent games. The offensive trio of Beste, Kleindienst and Dinkci will be at the start again against Union.
The Eisern will not change anything in the basic system and will again start with a three-man backline. However, we can well imagine that Urs Fischer will switch to a 3-4-3 against Heidenheim. Kevin Volland, however, will still be missing for the Köpenickers due to suspension.
Heidenheim – Union direct comparison & statistics
1. FC Heidenheim are ahead in the direct comparison so far. The men from the Brenz have won six of the first twelve duels so far. Union have also failed to win the last six league meetings between the two teams. In total, however, the Eisern have already won four times against Heidenheim.
- Union’s only win at Heidenheim was on 31.10.2015.
- The first duel between the two clubs in the Bundesliga.
- Heidenheim win the first half in 47% of their matches, Union Berlin in 26% of their matches
