With a 6-0 defeat in Leverkusen and only five points from ten games, 1. FC Heidenheim 1846, bottom of the Bundesliga, welcomes Borussia Mönchengladbach to the Voith Arena on Saturday afternoon. Gladbach are in a much more relaxed position in twelfth place and are on the up after three consecutive competitive wins.
The form curves could hardly be more contrasting, with Heidenheim looking vulnerable defensively, while Gladbach has regained stability and confidence under Eugen Polanski. Historically, there is also a lot to be said for the visitors, with four Gladbach wins and one draw in five previous direct encounters, Borussia scoring in each of these games by halftime and all encounters ending with at least three goals.
In terms of personnel, the picture fits this starting position. Polanski was confirmed as head coach until 2028 after his successful interim start, striker Haris Tabakovic is currently scoring regularly, and captain Tim Kleindienst could return after a long injury break and further influence the planning for the starting eleven. Heidenheim, on the other hand, needs a significant improvement in performance to remedy its defensive weaknesses and stabilize its precarious situation in the relegation battle.
Looking ahead, the statistics and current form clearly favor Borussia Mönchengladbach. Heidenheim must improve both offensively and defensively in order to take anything away from their own stadium. We can expect Gladbach to dominate, chances on both sides, and a higher probability of an away win and several goals in the game.
- Venue: Voith Arena, Heidenheim
- Date and time: November 22, 2025, 3:30 p.m.
- Competition: Bundesliga (Matchday 11)
The analysis clearly points to Borussia Mönchengladbach as the away winner at odds of around 2.2, with a margin of at least two goals and over 2.5 goals in total. This is based on the team’s improved form under Eugen Polanski, with three competitive wins in a row, the goal-scoring prowess of Haris Tabakovic, and the possible return of Tim Kleindienst, while Heidenheim is weakened by the absence of offensive players Kaufmann and Conteh and appears vulnerable defensively, as demonstrated by the 6-0 defeat in Leverkusen, among other things.
The strength of this argument is that it is based on clear form trends and specific player information, such as Tabakovic’s recent goals and assists and the injuries at Heidenheim. Added to this are statistics on the number of goals scored by both teams, with several games already ending with over 2.5 goals and Gladbach victories often resulting in a significantly positive goal difference, which further underpins the expectation of a high-scoring game.
Nevertheless, risks remain: short-term changes in line-up, suspensions, weather, or motivation can have a major impact on the course of the game. Despite personnel problems, Heidenheim could play more compactly or become dangerous from set pieces, and the odds of around 2.2 already reflect market opinion; real value only arises if your own assessment is better than that of the markets.
In practical terms, this means that anyone who agrees with the above arguments can consider a moderate bet on Borussia Mönchengladbach to win with a handicap of -2 in combination with over 2.5 goals, but must clearly classify this tip as risky.
This assessment does not constitute investment or legal advice. Sports betting involves the risk of loss, so please make responsible decisions and only bet money that you can afford to lose.
Heidenheim form & record check
Heidenheim is at the bottom of the table, in 18th place with five points, and the team has been waiting for a win for five Bundesliga games. Two draws against Frankfurt and Bremen were the few bright spots, but the negative headlines clearly outweigh the positives, especially the 0-6 defeat in Leverkusen and the recurring slumps after halftime.
The core problems are clear to see: the team looks particularly vulnerable in the second half, conceding at least one goal after the break in each of their last five games. The goal difference of minus 15 underscores the situation, with the defense being the biggest cause for concern and the team failing to keep a clean sheet in five games.
In terms of personnel, important absences are exacerbating the situation, with Paçarada out with a cruciate ligament tear, Conteh with a meniscus tear, and Kaufmann with adductor problems. This means that options in attack are being lost, as is stability in defense, the coaching team is being forced to make changes, and rotation remains thin.
In the short term, the focus is therefore clearly on stability, closing down the space, reducing the depth in their own game, and taking fewer risks in build-up play. A switch to a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 with two defensive midfielders would be a logical approach, as would earlier planned substitutions to better control the phase immediately after the break.
Set pieces must be trained intensively and clearly organized, with clean assignments, attention to second balls, and clearly defined roles for pressing triggers and retreat phases. Tactical adjustments at halftime should also be prepared, such as a change in the level of pressing or situational man-marking against key opposing players.
In addition, there are issues such as fitness, rotation, and mentality. Stress management should prevent slumps after about 60 minutes, and targeted and earlier substitutions can ensure freshness. A short psychological program for self-confidence and error acceptance can help reduce the fear of falling behind.
In terms of personnel, pragmatism is needed in the short term. Players with defensive reliability need playing time, even if this means sacrificing some offensive quality. In the medium term, the aim is to compensate for absences with consistent rehabilitation plans and, if necessary, to consider transfer or loan options if the squad remains too small.
For the coaching staff, this means immediately working on the defensive formation, set-piece protection, and specific training content for the second half, while at the same time communicating openly with the team and fans to take some of the pressure off. At the same time, squad planning and rehabilitation management remain high priorities.
Coach Frank Schmidt is likely to field his team in a 4-3-2-1 formation. Ramaj will be in goal, Traoré, Mainka, Siersleben, and Föhrenbach will form the back four, Schöppner, Niehues, and Dorsch will play in midfield, while Ibrahimovic and Honsak will take on the attacking roles behind striker Zivzivadze.
However, Schmidt has several players out with injuries, with Kaufmann and Conteh unavailable as alternatives in attack and Paçarada still sidelined in defense. Due to these absences, Schmidt is expected to opt for a compact formation to compensate for the lack of depth in his squad.
Gladbach form & record check
Borussia Mönchengladbach has stabilized noticeably after a disastrous start to the season, with three competitive wins in a row, including a 4-0 victory in St. Pauli and a 3-1 win against Cologne, providing momentum. Eugen Polanski has been made permanent head coach, and the decision seems to be having an effect, even if the team’s 12th place in the table with nine points is still only mediocre.
The most recent games have followed a clear pattern, with many goals scored in each of the last five games, often at least three, and no draws during this period. The offense is performing well, thanks in particular to striker Tabakovic, who has already scored six goals and is currently second in the scoring charts behind Kane, as well as Machino’s improving form.
However, Borussia remain vulnerable defensively. Even though Nicolas has established himself as the number one, the back line is not yet truly stable. The 0-3 and 1-3 defeats against Bayern and Union highlight their vulnerability against top teams.
There is cautious optimism regarding personnel, with Kleindienst back training with the team after his long meniscus injury and a return on Saturday not out of the question. Ngoumou is also nearing a comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon, and both would significantly expand the offensive options once again.
Gladbach are in a tight mid-table position, just three points behind Union Berlin and level on points with HSV. Their current run has boosted their confidence, but the game in Heidenheim will be a test of whether the turnaround is sustainable or just a brief bright spot after a poor start.
After three wins in a row, coach Eugen Polanski is expected to stick with a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Nicolas in goal and Scally, Elvedi, and Diks forming a back three. Honorat and Netz are planned for the wings, with Engelhardt and Neuhaus organizing the midfield in the center, and Reitz playing in front of the striking duo of Tabakovic and Machino.
Captain Kleindienst could return to the squad after his meniscus operation, but a place in the starting eleven still seems unlikely. Ngoumou, Ullrich, and Sander are certain to miss out as they remain sidelined with injuries.
Heidenheim – Gladbach Head-to-head & statistics
A direct comparison of the last five encounters clearly favors Gladbach, with Borussia recording four wins and one draw, while Heidenheim remained without a win. The most recent encounter in March 2025 ended in a 3-0 win for Gladbach in Heidenheim, and in October 2024, the Foals had already secured a 3-2 away win.
The half-time statistics are striking: Gladbach scored in the first 45 minutes in all five games, while Heidenheim conceded at least one goal before the break in every encounter. Gladbach shows remarkable consistency and effectiveness in the first half, especially against Heidenheim.
In terms of goal distribution, Gladbach scored at least one goal in all five games, while Heidenheim scored in four of the five encounters. Only one match ended in a draw, the 1-1 in 2024, with the other games mostly high-scoring and often featuring more than 2.5 goals.
After the break, things usually calmed down, with significantly fewer goals scored in the second halves than in the first 45 minutes.
The short assessment therefore suggests that, historically, there is much to be said for Gladbach making an early and offensive start. In this light, betting markets such as “Goal before half-time: Gladbach” or “Over 1.5 goals in total” appear plausible, even if past results are of course no guarantee for future games.
