Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Bundesliga match.
Borussia Dortmund secured their first victory of 2025 in midweek, beating Shakhtar Donetsk (3:1) in the Champions League. However, they have since announced Niko Kovac as their new head coach, though he won’t be in charge for this match. Interim manager Mike Tullberg will have one final opportunity to lead the team before stepping aside.
Heidenheim
There was no January transformation for Heidenheim. After a solid victory over Union Berlin (2:0), they began dropping points, conceding seven goals in their last three matches. Their defensive discipline faltered against Augsburg (1:2), where they conceded in the final minutes. The worrying part is that Heidenheim don’t necessarily allow a high number of chances (1.09 xGA and seven shots on target), yet still concede frequently.
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund will not be at their freshest after their Champions League exertions, and they are missing key players. Felix Nmecha and Niklas Süle are injured, while Nico Schlotterbeck is suspended following his red card in the last Bundesliga match. Since 22 December, six of Dortmund’s last seven matches have gone over 2.5 goals—a sign of their defensive instability but attacking potency.
Heidenheim vs Borussia Dortmund Prediction
Borussia Dortmund won in the first meeting of the season (4:2): at that time, Heidenheim were leading the table. With both sides eager to improve their league positions, another high-scoring affair seems likely.
