The second leg of the playoff for a spot in the Bundesliga between Elversberg and Heidenheim will take place on May 26 at the Waldstadion an der Kaiserlinde. The score of the first match was 2-2. Elversberg vs. Heidenheim: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Elversberg
Horst Steffen's side led by two goals in the first match but ended up with a 2-2 draw. This result ended Elversberg's three-match winning streak in official games, but the team has now scored in eight consecutive matches. However, they have conceded in six of their last seven official games. To advance to the next round, the team needs a win. In the current championship, Elversberg has won at home nine times, a record unmatched by any other team.
- Both teams scored in 5 of Horst Steffen's last 6 matches in the Second Bundesliga.
- At home in this tournament, the club has not lost in 6 of their last 7 matches (4 wins, 2 draws).
- Elversberg has not conceded more than one goal in their last 6 home matches in the championship.
Predicted lineup for Elversberg (4-5-1)
Nicolas Kristof – Elias Baum, Maximilian Rohr, Florian Le Joncour, Maurice Neubauer – Robin Fellhauer, Semih Sahin, Lukas Petkov, Muhammed Damar, Tom Zimmerschied – Fisnik Asllani.
Heidenheim
In the previous match, the team managed to come back from a two-goal deficit, although in the Bundesliga, Heidenheim rarely showed such character. Frank Schmidt's side conceded first in 21 matches this season and only managed two draws afterward. If the return leg also ends in a draw, the teams will face extra time. Notably, the club won 3 of their last 4 away matches in the elite German division.
- No more than 3 goals were scored in 6 of Heidenheim's last 8 Bundesliga games.
- The team conceded at least one goal in 11 of their last 14 away matches in the championship.
- Heidenheim did not score more than once in 6 of their last 8 away matches in this tournament.
Predicted lineup for Heidenheim (4-5-1)
Kevin Müller – Marnon Busch, Omar Haktab Traore, Patrick Mainka, Tim Siersleben – Jan Schöppner, Adrian Beck, Mathias Honsak, Franz Kretzig, Niklas Dorsch – Marvin Pieringer.
Referee
Sascha Stegemann (Germany)
Matches – 16 (Bundesliga, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 55;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.4;
Red cards shown – 3;
Average fouls per match – 20;
Penalties – 13%.
Match Prediction: Elversberg vs. Heidenheim
Frank Schmidt's side applied pressure from the start of the first match and had good chances to score, but Elversberg punished their defensive lapses twice. However, the hosts found the strength to avoid defeat and were even close to winning, but the crossbar saved the visitors in the 82nd minute. Thus, the question of a place in the 2025/26 Bundesliga will be decided in the return leg.
Elversberg has shown good results at home, not losing in 6 of their last 7 matches in the championship. However, four of those wins were against teams from the lower half of the table, and they also lost to Preußen Münster, who were fighting for survival.
Although Heidenheim did not avoid the playoffs, they ended the championship well. Importantly, Frank Schmidt's side has won 3 of their last 4 away matches in the Bundesliga, losing only to the bronze medalists of the tournament. I believe Heidenheim will learn from their mistakes and achieve a positive outcome in the return match. Moreover, the statistics are not favorable for Second Bundesliga teams: only one team has reached the top division through playoffs in the last 12 years.
My prediction: Heidenheim to advance
