After three previous victories from zero, the promotion mission of 1. FC Heidenheim in the 2nd Bundesliga has stuttered a bit. On the 31st match day, FCH couldn’t get past a 0-0 draw at home against 1. FC Magdeburg on Sunday (May 7th, 2023).
Despite the best chances and two aluminum goals in the second round, the most successful home team in the 2nd division had to settle for a draw. 61 points still mean second place three games before the end of the season, but Hamburger SV is still only four points behind as the first pursuer.
For Magdeburg (11th), who recently beat their competitor Heidenheimer 3-2 with HSV, with a nine-point lead over the relegation place, relegation is actually only a mathematical issue.
Magdeburg’s coach Christian Titz thought: “We did well in the first half and we should actually leave the pitch with a 1-0 lead at least. In the second half it was an open exchange of blows and a super exciting game for the neutral spectators. ” There was special praise for goalkeeper Dominik Reimann: “He really did an excellent job. Also how he kept calm.”
Magdeburg starts boldly and boldly
With the last two wins in a row, Magdeburg went into the game in second place offensively and confidently. Heidenheim found it difficult to access the game and was also concerned about securing their own goal.
In the first round, a game developed without the really big chances. FCH only fired its first shot on goal shortly before half-time, but Tim Kleindienst’s attempt was easily parried by Magdeburg goalkeeper Dominik Reimann (43′).
Heidenheim’s Sessa and Burnic only hit aluminum
After a double change at the break and certainly a corresponding speech from coach Frank Schmidt, Heidenheim came back onto the field with a lot more fire. Kevin Sessa hit the crossbar with one of his first touches (50th). A little later, the second substitute, Dzenis Burnic, also hit the woodwork with a long-range shot at the right post (59′).
Heidenheim’s coach Frank Schmidt was not disappointed that his team missed numerous chances in the second half: “I’m not at all desperate, I was proud that we took so many risks after we didn’t get into our processes at all in the first half , Magdeburg almost had a flawless passing rate. Then we said that we wanted to increase the risk. The team rewarded themselves with many chances to score, but unfortunately not with the goal to win the game. We wanted to win the game and we have everything done for it.”
Denis Thomalla also failed to score his header from five yards out after a cross (65′). Madgeburg only appeared occasionally after counterattacks around the Heidenheim penalty area. However, that was almost enough: after a counter-attack, Tatsuya Ito, who had just come on as a substitute, missed the visitors’ lead by just centimeters with a diagonal shot from the left (78′).
Two minutes before the end, Burnic forced Magdeburg’s keeper Reimann to do another great job with a direct shot from the left half (88′). In the end, FCH did not concede a goal for the fourth time in a row, but had to settle for a draw.
Magdeburg at home against Nuremberg
At the start of the 32nd matchday, 1. FC Magdeburg welcomes 1. FC Nürnberg (Friday, May 12th, 2023 at 6.30 p.m.). Heidenheim is a guest at SC Paderborn two days later (1.30 p.m.).