Tension in the Bundesliga cellar
Bottom group gains new hope – Cologne loses the derby
Updated April 25, 2026 – 5:42 p.mReading time: 4 minutes
Heidenheim is gaining new hope in the fight to stay in the Bundesliga. In the fight for the Champions League, Leverkusen is increasing the pressure on two competitors.
Five games were scheduled for the 31st Bundesliga matchday on Saturday afternoon. Several teams from the bottom of the table were in action, the big winner is Heidenheim. The FCH beat FC St. Pauli 2-0 (1-0) in front of their home crowd with goals from Budu Zivzivadze (3rd minute) and Eren Dinkçi (82nd). The bottom team, already written off weeks ago, can now hope to stay in the league again, four points behind the relegation place, which the “Kiezkicker” still occupy.
Another duel between two Kellerkinder took place in Wolfsburg. However, the Lower Saxony team was unable to improve a week after the away win at Union Berlin. In the end it was a 0-0 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach, which was much more beneficial for the “Foals”, who climbed to eleventh place. This means that the Gladbachers have, among other things, pushed past their local rivals. 1. FC Cologne lost 1:2 (0:1) against Bayer Leverkusen in front of their home crowd. Patrik Schick scored twice for the “Werkself” (43rd, 52nd), Luca Waldschmidts scored twice for Cologne (77th). Leverkusen moves up to fifth place and increases the pressure on rivals Stuttgart and Hoffenheim in the fight for the Champions League places.
1. FC Heidenheim – FC St. Pauli
The game started with a setback for Hamburg. After a corner, St. Pauli looked very unsorted, Zivzivadze poked the ball over the line. St. Pauli needed some time to find itself. As a result, a competitive game developed with many mistakes. Andreas Hountondji had the best chance to equalize (24th), but FCH goalkeeper Diant Ramaj reacted brilliantly.
Blessin strengthened the offensive with the substitution of Martijn Kaars after the change. Danel Sinani hit the side netting of the FCH goal once, Ramaj parried again against Hountondji (53′). It was a brief rebellion. Dinkçi brought the decision late.
