Union Berlin goes into this match with momentum, while Heidenheim is struggling with a losing streak and relegation worries. The roles seem clearly defined, yet this very matchup has repeatedly produced unpleasant surprises in recent years. Under Steffen Baumgart, Union is focusing more on defensive stability and efficiency from set pieces, while the promoted team from Heidenheim has to contend with personnel problems in attack and a poor away record. Against this backdrop, everything points to a tough, intense battle for every meter, with Union looking to confirm their home strength and FCH desperately needing a sign of life in the relegation battle.
- Venue: Stadion An der Alten Försterei, Berlin
- Date and time: November 29, 2025, 3:30 p.m.
- Competition: Bundesliga (Matchday 12)
Union is the clear favorite in this matchup. Form, home strength, and Heidenheim’s personnel problems all point to a home win, and the market odds of 1.7 make this tip even more plausible. Union is unbeaten in four competitive games and has kept a clean sheet twice in three of those games. Heidenheim is bottom of the table, still waiting for its first point away from home and has not won in eight games. The absence of both strikers, Zivzivadze and Kaufmann, weighs particularly heavily.
There are also many indications that this will be a low-scoring game. Union often wins its games by a narrow margin and relies heavily on set pieces, with eight of its 14 goals so far this season coming from set pieces without penalties. Without its attackers, Heidenheim lacks the firepower, especially against Union’s stable back three.
A slightly bolder option would be to bet on Union leading at halftime. Union often starts strongly at home and makes early use of set pieces, while Heidenheim has conceded more goals in the first half this season. However, the risk remains high because several of Union’s recent games have been goalless at halftime.
Recommended tips, sorted by risk: Conservative, Union win and under 3.5 goals. Moderate, Union win with odds around 1.7. Risk, Union to be leading at halftime and at full time, or Union to be leading at halftime only. In any case, you should pay attention to your own bankroll management. Conservative tips call for a moderate stake, while riskier options are more speculative. Shortly before kickoff, it’s worth taking a look at the latest form and injury updates, as new personnel announcements can influence the character of this match.
Union Berlin form & record check
Union Berlin is in 8th place in the table with 15 points, eight points ahead of the relegation zone. The Köpenick team is level on points with Werder Bremen in ninth place, but still five points behind Hoffenheim in seventh. Steffen Baumgart’s team is unbeaten in four games across all competitions. In the Bundesliga, they recently won 1-0 at St. Pauli, drew 2-2 with Bayern Munich and drew 0-0 with Freiburg. So, three games without defeat, even if their style of play still leaves questions unanswered.
Union has kept a clean sheet in three of its last four league games. The back three of Doekhi, Querfeld, and Leite looks much more stable, individual mistakes have become rarer, and the center is more compact. Opponents are more often pushed out to the wings. Offensively, however, there is a heavy reliance on set pieces. Eight of their 14 goals so far this season have come from set pieces without penalties, which is the highest in the league without penalties. Throws and free kicks often decide games, while the team often lacks ideas when playing against deep-lying opponents.
The structure of the game is also striking. In the last five matches, 80% of halves ended in a draw, and no victory was achieved in the second half. Union often manages a result instead of actively building on it, which can be a problem, especially against direct competitors. Skov, Schäfer, and the young Markgraf are still unavailable, with no clear prognosis for their return. In the short to medium term, the increased defensive stability provides a solid foundation, but in the long term, creativity from open play must improve if Union are to remain competitive in the race for the top places.
Under coach Steffen Baumgart, Union Berlin is expected to play a 3-4-2-1 formation. Doekhi, Querfeld, and Leite are likely to start in the back three. In front of them, a midfield consisting of Trimmel, Khedira, Kemlein, and Rothe is expected to form the control center. Burke and Ansah are expected to play as deep-lying forwards behind Ilic. Skov is out with a calf injury, while Schäfer and Juranovic are fit again after overcoming their problems.
Heidenheim form & record check
The situation at 1. FC Heidenheim is acute. After eight competitive games without a win, the Bundesliga newcomers are bottom of the table with five points and are deep in the relegation battle. Only one point separates them from the relegation play-off spot, but their form does not suggest a quick turnaround.
The last two games, a 6-0 defeat to Leverkusen and a 3-0 defeat to Mönchengladbach, have exposed both defensive and offensive weaknesses. The team seemed overwhelmed, the defense is vulnerable, and goalkeepers Müller and Ramaj were hardly able to defuse the opposing attacks. Statistically, the downward spiral is clearly visible. In the last five games, they have conceded at least one goal, often several. At the same time, they lack punch in attack, exacerbated by the injuries to Zivzivadze and Kaufmann. Only the 1-1 draw against Frankfurt has brought them a point in recent times.
Additional absences such as Paçarada and Conteh are problematic. Coach Frank Schmidt must create stability from a decimated squad and will probably have to bring in players who have recently performed poorly. The time for experimentation is limited. The away record without a single point further exacerbates the situation ahead of the game in Berlin. In the short term, tactical stabilization is needed with more compact defensive play and clearer procedures for set pieces, as well as psychological impetus for self-confidence and better team organization. Otherwise, the crisis threatens to deepen further.
Coach Frank Schmidt is likely to field his team in the usual 4-1-4-1 formation. Traoré, Mainka, Siersleben, and Föhrenbach are expected to start in defense, with Dorsch taking the central six position in front of them. The forward line remains problematic, as Zivzivadze and Kaufmann are out with injuries and Pieringer has to play as the lone striker. In midfield, Ibrahimovic, Schöppner, Beck, and Honsak could provide relief and link up with the forwards.
Union Berlin – Heidenheim Head-to-head comparison & statistics
The most recent head-to-head matches have been sobering from Union’s perspective. Heidenheim won the last three Bundesliga games against Union, including 2-0 in January 2025 and 3-0 in May 2025. Union’s last victory came in the 2022 DFB Cup with a 2-0 win.
These games are typically low-scoring. In four of the last five encounters, there was a maximum of one goal in the second half, and overall the games remained low-scoring. Heidenheim scored regularly, while Union conceded goals relatively frequently. The 2-2 draw in 2024 is the exception in this series.
Statistically, one could almost speak of a bogey team situation. Heidenheim has usually found the better solutions in recent Bundesliga duels and has never needed more than two goals to defeat Union. Despite Union’s fundamental home strength, the record of recent years shows a clear upper hand for FCH.
