Heidenheim has leveled with Wolfsburg and St. Pauli – the relegation battle will go down to the wire on the final day.
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The dream of a miracle survival for the team from Ostalb remains alive, and the Bundesliga is set for a heart-stopping finale in the relegation fight. Thanks to a 3-1 (2-1) victory by 1. FC Heidenheim over 1. FC Köln, the bottom three teams in the standings are level on points for the first time ever heading into Matchday 34. Goals from Jan Schöppner (8th, 72nd minute) and Arijon Ibrahimovic (28th) secured Heidenheim’s first away win in nearly six months, keeping hope alive for an improbable escape.
Heidenheim, which had been languishing at the bottom of the table for months under coach Frank Schmidt, capitalized on losses by third-from-bottom Wolfsburg (0-1 vs. Bayern) and new last-place St. Pauli (1-2 in Leipzig). All three now share 26 points. Ahead of the final match against Mainz, only goal difference separates Heidenheim (-29) from Wolfsburg (-26), who face St. Pauli (-29) in a direct duel. Köln, for whom Marius Bülter scored (10th minute), were already safe before kickoff.
The visitors started boldly, knowing a win was essential. “Honestly, what have we had to lose for weeks? Nothing. We still have nothing to lose. We’re still in 18th place,” Schmidt told DAZN before the match. Over the past six games, his side had clawed back seven points on their rivals. After the win in Köln, Heidenheim overtook St. Pauli on goals scored to move up to 17th.
Whistles for Köln’s Carefree Approach
Köln approached the match with little urgency, already assured of safety. Center-back Jahmai Simpson-Pusey arrived late for the morning warm-up and was consequently dropped from the squad by coach René Wagner. “We talked all week about how important this game is for us. We have to show discipline, and if a player is late, there must be consequences. The team needs to feel that,” Wagner said. The 37-year-old, who took over as interim coach in March after Lukas Kwasniok’s dismissal, is expected to be confirmed as the permanent manager in the coming days.
Without Simpson-Pusey, Köln’s defense lacked organization, especially early on. Cenk Özkacar made two costly errors leading to Heidenheim’s opener. After midfielder Schöppner headed in the goal, Köln equalized immediately. Bülter’s powerful shot from a tight angle left Heidenheim goalkeeper Frank Feller with no chance. Feller, 22, was surprisingly promoted to the starting lineup by Schmidt, replacing Diant Ramaj, who had a shaky performance in the 3-3 draw with Bayern Munich.
“There isn’t just one reason,” Schmidt said about the goalkeeper switch. Feller had suffered a serious knee injury before the season, missed months, but recently returned to “absolute top level” in training, according to Schmidt. Feller will remain in goal even if Heidenheim reaches the relegation playoffs, Schmidt confirmed.
Schöppner’s Double Seals the Win
Those playoffs became more likely after Ibrahimovic restored Heidenheim’s lead before halftime. Köln’s defense looked poor again on the second goal. Heidenheim dominated against the lackadaisical hosts but sometimes overcomplicated their play and missed several chances to add a third before the break, drawing whistles from the Köln fans.
In the second half, Köln appeared more determined and pressed forward, which gave Heidenheim space to counter. However, they also squandered opportunities. Schöppner’s second goal in the 72nd minute effectively sealed the result.
