TOGETHER! matchday
This matchday across the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 is all about the DFL’s TOGETHER! campaign as German football comes together to “Stop Hate. Be a Team”. Both sets of players will gather ahead of kick-off behind a banner that reads “love football, hate racism”.
#FCHB04: match Facts
There was seemingly little Heidenheim could do on their visit to the BayArena earlier this season. Leverkusen were 4-0 up inside 27 minutes and got a fifth before the break through Ibrahim Maza’s first Bundesliga goal. He then bagged a brace in the second period to round off the half dozen and a fifth win in as many league meetings with Frank Schmidt’s men. Patrik Schick also netted twice, meaning he averages a goal every 48 minutes against Heidenheim.
The two teams also have contrasting stats across the season. The division’s bottom side have had the least possession (41%), while the Werkself rank second in that regard (59%). Schmidt’s men have conceded the most goals (58), Bayer 04 have the third-best defence (33). However, Saturday afternoon’s game will still be hard work for Bayer 04 if they’re to extend Heidenheim’s 13-game winless run in the Bundesliga. The hosts may have lost their last two fixtures against Hoffenheim (4-2) and Eintracht Frankfurt (1-0) but gave two teams chasing European qualification a tough ride.
focus on Heidenheim
Still, Schmidt’s side have lost five of their last six games and are bottom of the table, 10 points adrift of the play-off spot. “It would be more than a miracle if we got out of it,” the long-standing coach said of his team’s situation, but he will still want to pick up as many points as possible in the final weeks of the season. Home form, which had been the bedrock of their successful first two seasons in the Bundesliga, has faded, but the team’s efforts and commitment is still there to see, ranking in mid-table for challenges won. Find out more about Heidenheim and any potential weaknesses in our opposition profile.
