Heidenheim Vs Borussia Dortmund

Newly appointed Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac is preparing to oversee his first match in charge as his team travels to face Heidenheim at Voith-Arena in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

Heidenheim currently occupies the precarious 16th spot in the league table, which would see them enter the relegation playoff if the season ended today. They have amassed just 14 points so far and suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat at the hands of Augsburg on January 25. Meanwhile, Dortmund managed to salvage a 2-2 draw against Werder Bremen last Saturday, yet they find themselves in an underwhelming 11th place with a total of 26 points.

The defensive vulnerabilities of Heidenheim were brutally exposed in their recent clash against Augsburg, particularly given that they conceded stoppage-time goals in both halves of the match. This concerning trend was not an isolated incident, as it marked the second consecutive fixture in which they allowed a goal in the 92nd minute. Their struggles at the back have left them only four points away from complete safety, yet their position remains perilous given that they are merely two points clear of Holstein Kiel, who currently sit in 17th and would face automatic relegation if they cannot climb up the table.

Manager Frank Schmidt faces an uphill battle in tightening his team’s defensive structure. In their last three outings alone, Heidenheim has been breached a total of seven times by opposing teams. Their current run of form is far from encouraging, with the team losing two of their last four matches and suffering defeat in eight of their previous nine encounters before that stretch. However, there have been some positive signs at home in recent weeks. Voith-Arena has offered them slightly more stability, as they have managed to win once and secure a draw in their last three fixtures on home turf. Still, their home form remains inconsistent, particularly considering that they had endured four consecutive losses at their stadium before that slight upturn.

On the other hand, Borussia Dortmund finds itself in a period of transition following the dismissal of Nuri Sahin, who was relieved of his duties after overseeing a disastrous start to 2025. A sequence of four consecutive losses—including three in the Bundesliga—ultimately led to the decision to part ways with the former midfielder, with the club appointing Kovac as his replacement. The experienced Croatian tactician brings with him a wealth of knowledge, having previously managed Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayern Munich, and Wolfsburg.

Despite Dortmund’s underwhelming league position, Kovac takes charge of a team that showed resilience in their most recent outing against Werder Bremen. Even after being reduced to 10 men as early as the 21st minute while the game was still goalless, they fought back to claim a hard-earned draw. Additionally, their European campaign remains alive, as they recently secured a place in the Champions League round of 16 playoff. A decisive 3-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday ensured that they finished 10th, setting up a crucial showdown against either Sporting Lisbon or Club Brugge in the next phase of the competition.

From a domestic standpoint, Dortmund still harbors ambitions of securing a Champions League spot for next season, as they are currently six points adrift of fourth-placed Stuttgart, who occupy the final qualification position. However, their defensive frailties have been a glaring issue, with the team conceding 33 goals so far. Among the Bundesliga's top 14 clubs, this record ranks as the fifth worst, highlighting a key area that Kovac will need to address if he is to turn Dortmund’s fortunes around.

Heading into Saturday’s fixture, Dortmund is enduring a poor spell of form in the league, having failed to register a single victory in their last four Bundesliga outings. They have suffered three defeats and managed only one draw in that period. However, they may take confidence from their last meeting with Heidenheim, which resulted in a convincing 4-2 victory for BVB on September 13.

One of the most concerning aspects of Dortmund’s season so far has been their struggles in away matches. The team has endured a torrid time on the road, losing eight of their last 11 Bundesliga fixtures away from home and securing just a solitary victory during that stretch. Their inability to consistently pick up points outside of Signal Iduna Park has significantly contributed to their current mid-table position.

With the arrival of Niko Kovac, Borussia Dortmund will be hoping for a fresh start, and their clash against Heidenheim presents the first opportunity to gauge how the team might evolve under new leadership. Meanwhile, Heidenheim remains desperate to gather points to bolster their survival hopes, making this an important encounter for both sides as they look to steer their respective seasons in a positive direction.