Bundesliga
Heidenheim wins cellar duel – and breathes through
Updated on March 16, 2025 – 7:35 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Heidenheim breathes through in the relegation battle. The team from Ostalb dominated against Kiel over long distances, but in the end it became tight again.
The 1st FC Heidenheim brought in an important victory in the relegation battle of the Bundesliga and drawn new hope. The team of coach Frank Schmidt won the basement duel against Holstein Kiel 3-1 (1: 0) and gave the “red lantern” to the north Germans.
Marvin Pieringer (33.), Budu Siwsiwadse (47th) and Sirlord Conteh (90.+3) scored the goals for Heidenheim, which had not previously won nine league games in a row. For Kiel, Phil Harres (87th) met late to the connection. Previously, Fiete Arp (58th) had hit the crossbar by free kick.
With the second victory in 2025, Heidenheim moves up to one point to VfL Bochum and the relegation place. After the defeat with three points, Holstein Kiel remains behind Bochum at the end of the table.
Heidenheim initially acted carefully and left the guests from Kiel more game shares. Nevertheless, Adrian Beck (19th) had the first good chance for the hosts. Shortly afterwards, Kiels Steven Skrzybski missed the opportunity to lead when he overlooked the free -standing Shuto Machino (20th).
After an interplay with Siwsiwadse, Pieringer failed to go to Kiel’s goalkeeper Timon Weiner (27th). But a little later the striker was successful: after a cross from Frans Krätzig, Pieringer prevailed against Marco Komenda in the penalty area and headed for the lead.
Heidenheim stayed on the trigger after the break. After Pieringer failed again on Weiner, it was Siwsiwadse who scored 2-0 from a distance. Coach Schmidt had guessed it and already explained before the game that Siwsiwadse recently kept “everything that came to him” in training.
Kiel tried to get back until the end. Coach Marcel Rapp loudly drove his team and gave captain Lewis Holtby additional instructions via slip. But Harres’s late goal was also no longer able to avert the defeat after Conteh still networked before the end.