For the former surprise team of the 1st FC Heidenheim, there is a hard European Cup task in the middle of the Bundesliga descent fight. It would be a curse and a blessing at the same time.
It was only a few months ago that the players of 1. FC Heidenheim regularly took strength in an unexpected oasis of wellbeing. Three victories in three games – the surprise team from the Ostalb rode a wave of success at the European Cup premiere and fueled properly confidence. But the wave broke, for its fairytale ascent to the Conference League, the team of coach Frank Schmidt now pays a high price.
Captain Patrick Mainka: “The Bundesliga is much more important”
In the Bundesliga, Heidenheim is as a table-16. In the relegation battle. The drainess of everyday league dwellers spoils the anticipation for the next European adventure. “Everyone is aware that the Bundesliga is much, much more important,” said captain Patrick Mainka The defeat at SC Freiburg (0: 1) last Saturday. The play-off first leg at FC Copenhagen on Thursday (9 p.m., live in the audio stream on SWR Sport) So none will be enjoyed.
The trainer sees it like captain Mainka. “The biggest goal is to stay in the Bundesliga, no question,” said Schmidt at the press conference. But the chance to win the home game on Sunday against FSV Mainz 05 is greater if his team played a good game in Copenhagen.
But at first the FCH wants to achieve a result in Copenhagen that “hope, but also the faith” for the second leg on February 20 in the Heidenheim arena, said Schmidt. It gets difficult enough, the FCH coach warned, especially of the strong offensive of the Danes.
Goalkeeper Kevin Müller, on the other hand, had already clarified after the game in Freiburg, his team trip was definitely not to Denmark, “to protect us for the Bundesliga”. The Conference League is “another competition where you can get self -confidence if you make it positively. That’s why we want to be successful.” The fact that nobody likes to lose games is obvious. However, an end in the European Cup could turn out to be a blessing at short notice and mean additional power in the exhausting race for relegation.
Audio tip
In the first leg of the UEFA Conference League playoffs, the 1st FC Heidenheim travels to FC Copenhagen in Denmark. The game on February 13th, 2025, from 9 p.m. In the SWR Audio-Livestream.
FC Copenhagen – Bären -strong Danes
At FC Copenhagen, the Heidenheimers caught an opponent who has often played in the Champions League. The team around the former Dortmund Thomas Delaney was only third in the Danish Superliga last year. In this season, the 15-time master is at the top again. In addition, Copenhagen is strong, out of 16 competitive games in the current season in the stadium, the capital team lost only one.
Heidenheim’s coach Frank Schmidt, meanwhile, hopes that his team will become more offensive. Because with playing out of scoring chances, she continues to find it difficult. “There is room for improvement. We have to improve this effectiveness,” said the 51-year-old. The center forward Budu ZivziVadse, who came from Karlsruher SC during the winter break, is still waiting for his first goal for the FCH. The decision to progress is made in the second leg in Heidenheim on February 20.
Union Berlin as a model for Heidenheim?
Union Berlin had to deal with comparable concerns in the league at the Champions League debut last year, but ultimately managed to rescue after the early departure. In addition, the move into the KO round means a huge success for the international “football dwarf” Heidenheim.
As a reminder: Schmidt and his team are currently playing their second season in the Bundesliga. Another is the most important goal of playing the game against Copenhagen more than a further highlight that serves more than a means to an end. “We have to try to push this famous Bock in our direction on Thursday,” said Mainka, “and then take the momentum into play against Mainz.” Heidenheim fights for the next Bundesliga counters against the 05er on Sunday (7:30 p.m.).
Broadcast on Wed., 12.2.2025 6:40 p.m., SWR1 Baden-Württemberg
