Five matches, five defeats: Heidenheim has never scored against Eintracht Frankfurt, most recently suffering a clear 0-4 defeat in their own Voith Arena in December. This Saturday afternoon, the hosts welcome Eintracht once again, but the omens could hardly be worse. Frankfurt sits in sixth place with 13 points and international ambitions, while Heidenheim, with only four points, is second from bottom and fighting to stay in the league. The recent cup defeat against Hamburg, in which Tim Siersleben was sent off early on, underlined the hosts’ form crisis. To make matters worse, three regulars are missing through injury: Paçarada, Conteh and the important striker Kaufmann. Frankfurt, on the other hand, travel with renewed confidence after their 2-0 win over St. Pauli, in which Jonathan Burkardt scored both goals to take his season tally to nine. The statistics speak for themselves: Heidenheim have never scored before half-time in previous head-to-head matches and have conceded at least two goals in all five encounters. Given the historical record, current form, and personnel strength, Frankfurt goes into the game as the clear favorite, while Heidenheim faces the anxious question of whether they will even manage to score against Eintracht’s defense.
- Venue: Voith Arena, Heidenheim
- Date and time: November 1, 2025, 3:30 p.m.
- Competition: Bundesliga (Matchday 9)
Main tip: Eintracht Frankfurt to win away (odds approx. 1.90). The data supports Frankfurt as the clear favorite. Jonathan Burkardt has been extremely efficient with 9 goals from only 23 shots, which corresponds to about 2.6 shots per goal, and recently scored his third brace. Heidenheim has conceded goals in five consecutive competitive games and is also missing an important attacker in Mikkel Kaufmann. The hosts’ form and weak defense clearly point to a Frankfurt victory. Second tip: Over 3.5 goals (odds approx. 2.20), risky but well-founded. Heidenheim has conceded at least one goal in every second half of its last five games. Frankfurt has scored more than 1.5 goals in all of its recent games. Results such as the 5-1 win against Galatasaray and the 2-2 draw in Freiburg demonstrate Frankfurt’s offensive power, and an open encounter with several goals seems plausible. Third tip: Both teams to score: Yes (odds approx. 1.44). Frankfurt has conceded goals in four of its last five games, including five against Liverpool and three against Bayern. Heidenheim has scored in four of its last five games despite its slump in form. The combination of Frankfurt’s offensive strength and defensive vulnerabilities makes this outcome likely. Risk and notes: All tips involve a sporting risk, especially over 3.5 goals is speculative. Injuries such as Kaufmann’s, tactical changes, or early red cards can greatly influence the course of the game. Only bet money you can afford to lose, and pay attention to odds fluctuations before placing your bet.
Heidenheim Form & Record Check
Heidenheim is deep in the relegation battle with four points from eight games. Only one point separates them from Gladbach in the relegation spot, while Mainz in 16th place is also just one point ahead of them. The team shows little offensive power and regularly concedes goals defensively. In their last five competitive games, they have only managed one win, a 2-1 victory over Augsburg, along with a 2-2 draw against Bremen and three defeats. Particularly striking: In the first 45 minutes, the team failed to score in all five games, and after the break, Heidenheim conceded at least one goal in each of these matches. The latest results underscore the misery: 0-1 in the DFB Cup against HSV with a red card for Siersleben and a controversial penalty, 1-3 at Hoffenheim and 0-1 in the derby against Stuttgart. Coach Frank Schmidt was particularly critical of the referee’s decisions against HSV. The tense personnel situation further exacerbates the situation: Feller, Paçarada, Conteh, and Kaufmann are out with injuries, which reduces both defensive stability and offensive power. The form curve is clearly pointing downwards, with defensive vulnerability and a lack of punch up front remaining the main problems.
Coach Frank Schmidt is expected to stick with his usual 4-4-2 formation. Ramaj is set to start in goal. Traoré, Mainka, Siersleben, and Föhrenbach will form the back four. Siersleben received a red card in the cup match against Hamburg, but this suspension does not appear to affect league play, so he should be available. Ibrahimovic, Niehues, Schöppner, and Honsak are planned to form a back four in midfield. Pieringer and Zivzivadze are expected to form the two-man attack. Kaufmann remains sidelined with adductor problems. Conteh, with a torn meniscus, and Paçarada, with a torn cruciate ligament, are also unavailable. Dorsch and Beck could be available as offensive alternatives, especially if Heidenheim falls behind.
Frankfurt Form & Record Check
Eintracht Frankfurt is in a period of uncertainty. Sixth place in the Bundesliga with 13 points is still respectable, but four points behind Leverkusen and a run of four competitive games without a win show that stability is lacking. The 5-1 defeat to Liverpool and the cup exit on penalties against Dortmund weigh heavily, and although the recent 2-0 win against St. Pauli brought some relief, it does not yet signal a clear change of direction. Tactically, it is noticeable that the team has conceded goals in the second half in four of its last five games. This points to difficulties in defensive organization under increasing pressure, possibly due to a loss of concentration or a lack of defensive compactness. These weaknesses are particularly evident against strong opponents, as shown by the 2-2 draw in Freiburg, the 5-1 defeat to Liverpool, and the 3-0 defeat to Bayern. Offensively, there are reliable elements: Jonathan Burkardt is extremely efficient with nine goals this season, needing only 23 shots to achieve this tally. Mario Götze remains central to the team’s build-up play, while Ansgar Knauff provides impetus on the wing. Baum and Højlund are currently out with injuries, which limits the options in the squad. The sharp increase in personnel costs to €177.3 million raises questions about sustainability. CEO Zamberk links the costs to performance bonuses, such as for qualifying for the Champions League, but the model is vulnerable to sporting setbacks. The squad includes expensive players such as Batshuayi, Buta, and Wahi, not all of whom are regulars. The sporting foundations around Burkardt and Götze are stable, but the main problem remains defensive instability, especially in the second half, and financial vulnerability in view of the increased personnel costs. In the short term, adjustments to games and training can be implemented, but in the medium term, a more sustainable cost structure would be advisable if sporting success fails to materialize.
Frankfurt is relying on a 3-4-2-1 system with Zetterer in goal after the turmoil surrounding Trapp’s departure. Koch, Theate, and Kristensen form the back three, while Brown and Doan occupy the flanks. Skhiri and Larsson operate as double sixes in central midfield. In attack, Götze and Chaïbi play behind center forward Burkardt as creative minds. Oscar Højlund with a muscle injury and Elias Baum with a thigh injury are out indefinitely, while Ngankam is missing due to not being eligible to play in the Champions League. Uzun, Knauff, Wahi, and Batshuayi are ready on the bench, although Batshuayi currently has other concerns. Coach Toppmöller appeared deliberately emotionless at the press conference, despite the tense situation after four games without a win.
Heidenheim – Frankfurt Head-to-head & statistics
The record since 2017 speaks for itself: Eintracht Frankfurt has won all five competitive matches, while Heidenheim is still waiting for its first point against the Hessians. The results include several clear victories for Frankfurt, including a 4-0 win in December 2024 at the Voith Arena and a 3-0 win in April 2025. Only the 2-1 win for Frankfurt in March 2024 was closer. Frankfurt only won the 2017 DFB Cup tie in extra time. The games often followed a similar pattern: in four of the five encounters, Frankfurt led by a maximum of one goal at half-time, with the game being decided in the second half. Heidenheim did not score many goals in any of the encounters and conceded goals in all games. For coach Frank Schmidt and his team, this negative streak has not only sporting but also potentially mental implications, as the historical record can be an additional burden before such matches.
