VfL Wolfsburg – 1. FC Heidenheim
Wolfsburg is eyeing Europe, while Heidenheim is fighting for survival – the situation could hardly be more explosive. VfL are currently in 8th place and want to maintain their chances of qualifying for the internationals. The situation is quite different for the guests: 1. FC Heidenheim are in 17th place in the table and are in desperate need of points. At least Frank Schmidt’s team were able to get a small win with a 3-1 victory against bottom-placed Holstein Kiel. One of the most important players is striker Tim Kleindienst: he was able to convince in the national team and could now also provide decisive moments in Wolfsburg. The Wolves may already be looking ahead to the clash with Borussia Dortmund on May 3, but first of all, the important match against the promoted team is what counts.
Wolfsburg – Heidenheim Infos
- Spielort: Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg
- Datum und Uhrzeit: 29.03.2025, 15:30 Uhr
- Wettbewerb: Bundesliga
Wolfsburg Form & Balance Check
VfL Wolfsburg have been erratic of late: After the hard-fought 2-1 win in Bremen, a sobering 1-1 draw against FC St. Pauli followed. The 1-0 defeat at direct rivals FC Augsburg, who also have 38 points, was particularly painful. Wolfsburg repeatedly showed uncertainties in defense, conceding at least one goal in each of the last five games. The fact that the DFB Cup was their final stop, losing 1-0 to RB Leipzig, also added to the disillusionment. On top of that, there is a persistent problem in the offense before the break: they have not scored a single goal in the first half recently. As a result, Ralph Hasenhüttl’s team often only look alert and dangerous after the break.
Ralph Hasenhüttl is likely to stick with the 4-3-3 system, but will have to cope with a number of injuries. Playmaker Lovro Majer is out with a torn muscle, which probably clears the way for Mattias Svanberg into the central midfield. Defensively, Bornauw and Vavro are unavailable, which is why Koulierakis and Fischer are likely to form the central defender duo. Maehle and Roerslev are planned as full-backs. Wind is expected in the center forward position, flanked by Tiago Tomás and the newly signed Skov Olsen. Captain Maximilian Arnold is expected to lead the game as usual, and additional compromises are necessary due to the absences of Gerhardt (illness) and Lukas Nmecha (adductor problems). In addition, the talented Dárdai could get a chance in the starting lineup.
1. FC Heidenheim Form & Balance Check
1. FC Heidenheim are in the middle of the relegation battle. With only 19 points and 17th place in the table, the pressure is enormous. Although the recent 3-1 win against Holstein Kiel boosted morale, the defense remains a persistent problem: Heidenheim have conceded at least one goal in each of the last five games. Particularly tricky: in 80% of the games, the opponents scored goals both before and after the break. If Frank Schmidt’s team wants to have a chance of avoiding relegation, they need to stabilize their defense. On the other hand, many hopes rest on Tim Kleindienst, who has been attracting more attention since his debut in the national team and has impressed with his heading ability.
As for the visitors, coach Frank Schmidt is expected to stick with his usual 3-5-2 formation. In front of keeper Müller, a back three of Busch, Gimber and Mainka is likely, while Schöppner, Scienza, Beck, Dorsch and Negele will close down the midfield. Zivzivadze and Pieringer are first choice in attack; Pieringer’s header strength in particular could be dangerous. It is possible that the talented Paul Wanner (market value 18 million euros) will be absent due to illness, which would be a bitter blow for Heidenheim. Julian Niehues and Mathias Honsak are also apparently unavailable. A final decision will probably not be made until shortly before kick-off, but a fundamental change to the system is not expected.
Wolfsburg – Heidenheim head to head & statistics
Wolfsburg have the edge in their head-to-head encounters, having won four of the last five meetings and drawn one – Heidenheim are still waiting for their first win against the Lower Saxony side. The last time Wolfsburg won was in November 2024, when they ran out 3-1 winners. The two teams have also met in the DFB Cup, with VfL always coming out on top. It is particularly striking that Wolfsburg has scored at least one goal in all these games, while Heidenheim has not kept a clean sheet a single time. The promoted team has therefore always had to admit defeat or settle for a point. The signs indicate that Wolfsburg will be the favorite again this time.
