Hertha BSC will host 1. FC Heidenheim at the Olympiastadion on Saturday as both sides look to secure a second consecutive victory in Germany’s second tier.
The Berlin club opened their season with a hard-fought win away to Bochum, despite facing significant financial constraints and the departure of several key players during the summer. Sebastian Grønning scored the decisive goal, assisted by Soufian Gouram on his first start, handing Hertha their first opening-day triumph in five years. The result defied pre-match expectations that favoured the hosts.
Heidenheim, relegated from the Bundesliga last term, began their bid for an immediate return with a dramatic 4-3 success against newly promoted Osnabrück. Budu Zivzivadze, Marcel Costly, Jan Schöppner and Marvin Pieringer all found the net in the seven-goal thriller, though the narrow margin suggested defensive vulnerabilities remain.
Historical Context
Saturday’s fixture will mark the first competitive league meeting between the two clubs. They have faced each other twice previously, both occasions coming in the DFB-Pokal. Hertha emerged victorious on both outings, winning 2-1 at home in 2024 and 3-2 away in 2016.
The dugouts feature familiar adversaries. Hertha head coach Stefan Leitl and his Heidenheim counterpart Frank Schmidt have met nine times previously, with Schmidt holding a slight advantage through four wins to Leitl’s three.
Team News
Hertha will be without Gustav Christensen and Jon Dagur Þorsteinsson through injury. The visitors are expected to miss Christian and Sirlord Conteh.
The hosts may line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Gersbeck between the posts; Eitschberger, Gechter, Kolbe and Zeefuik across the back; Sessa and Seguin in midfield; and Winkler, Gouram and Brekalo supporting Grønning in attack.
Heidenheim are predicted to adopt a 4-1-4-1 shape featuring Feller in goal; Mhmadi, Mainka, Siersleben and Föhrenbach in defence; Schöppner anchoring midfield; Costly, Pieringer, Beck and Honsak in advanced roles; and Zivzivadze as the lone striker.
Manager Comments
Leitl hopes to transfer the momentum from the Ruhr region to the capital. “We took a lot of positives from the game; the lads were encouraged in their approach. Now we continue on Saturday; we want to bring this level of performance to the field week after week,” he said.
Schmidt anticipates a demanding tactical battle. “It will probably be like this: two teams that are prepared to push high and defend intensely. Then it’s about breaking down those one-on-one situations, getting in behind, and bypassing their counter-pressing. We’ve practiced that. Now we have to show that we can put it into practice,” the Heidenheim coach explained.
With both clubs sitting on maximum points after matchday one, victory for either side would provide significant early impetus in the promotion race.