Interim coach Mike Tullberg has delivered: One day before Niko Kovac’s entry into Dortmund, BVB celebrated a very important 2: 1 (1: 0) away win at 1. FC Heidenheim. The Borussia climbed tenth in the Bundesliga in the Bundesliga, while the FCH keeps stuck on the relegation place.
Only Jürgen Klopp has recently been worse: the only 26 points from 19 league games have certified Borussia Dortmund the weakest Bundesliga season in the upper house of German football for ten years. Back then, 2014/15, only 16 points from 19 games were recorded under Klopp.
A weak consolation for the Dortmunders, which are going over these days. Before the new coach Niko Kovac on Sunday (02.02.2025) takes over the rudder after the brazen of the past few weeks, interim solution Mike Tullberg was again able to look after the team in Heidenheim. For him and BVB, the only thing that was to end the dry spell from four Bundesliga games in a row without a victory (a draw, three defeats).
Tullberg: “It’s about the club”
“It’s about the club“, a satisfied Tullberg stood up to the sports show after the game – and made it clear that he will support Kovac fully:”I’ve been here for six years, I love to be here. Now it’s about supporting Niko and finding the next talent. I’m looking forward to it.“
The mood at Heidenheim’s coach Frank Schmidt was not surprisingly negative: “Dortmund could build too easily, we didn’t manage to press the opponent. We only started playing as we wanted to play after the second goal – that was too late. “
Standard helps dominant BVB
Heidenheim was not inconvenient for BVB, and the underdog from Ostalb has actually hardly wanted to succeed in the past few weeks. So the two practically went into the match at eye level. And BVB, who had at least a little confidence with the Champions League victory against Donetsk (3: 1) during the week. The hosts pushed the hosts heavily back, booked a lot of possession of the ball – but no chances in the first half hour.
Brandt, Gittens and Co. found no way into the dangerous zone against the deeply standing Heidenheimers. What helps in such a phase? Standards, of course. Dortmund was also allowed to rely on this in the 33rd minute. After a corner kick, Waldemar Anton somehow poked the ball through to Serhou Guirassy, who sank the ball from six meters to 0: 1.
Heidenheim – where is that Self -confidence?
And Heidenheim? Was almost not offensive in the first section. The boys from coach Frank Schmidt banged at the back, their own attacks remained failed. All of this: a clear indication of a lack of conviction. After the long series of defeat before Christmas, the start of the new year was very successful: the 2-0 home against Union Berlin followed the last minute 3: 3 in Bremen, the team thought again in 2025. But then the two evil setbacks against St.Pauli (0: 2) and in Augsburg (1: 2) followed.
The serious sporting situation on the Schlossberg will only be improved with brave football. Such a half-time address from Schmidt could have arrived with his boys. In any case, the FCH was considerably more gripper in the second half, attacked the opponent much earlier. And that immediately had an effect: the fast Sirloth Conteh, replaced after 55 minutes, introduced itself with a good opportunity. In the 57th minute he was on the left and of it, but his shot from a half -left position was too weak to put Gregor Kobel with problems.
Heidenheim is pushing, Dortmund counters
Heidenheim was now fully involved. The bitterly the setback after 62 minutes: Marcel Sabitzer had conquered the ball in midfield and created space with long steps and a Dortmund outnumbered in Heidenheim’s half. The played Jamie Gittens fit flat in the middle, where Maximilian Beier only had to hold his foot – 0: 2. The preliminary decision? Nevertheless. Less than two minutes later, the doorbell rang: Mathias Honsak shortened with his goal from nine meters after Frans Krätz’s preparatory work to 1: 2 (64th).
Frans Krätzig (left) directed Honsak’s goal to 1: 2
It was now a mood in the booth. Both fought, now played unconditionally forward. Heidenheim vehemently urged Paul Wanner with the now substituted, but somehow the last pass didn’t want to succeed. In addition, BVB offered the rooms that fast boys like Karim Adeyemi can use. In the 83rd minute it could have struck in the Dortmund box: Conteh had a lot of space on the right, actually only needed to cross crossing – but the ball promised him at the crucial moment.
Heidenheim in Freiburg, Dortmund against Stuttgart
The BVB victory wobbled. Almost an own goal in the 89th minute: Wanner had flanked from the left and Salih Özcan would have sunk a header around a hair in her own box. The ball slid past the left post. That’s it: BVB trembled to the second away win of the season and slowed down one day before Niko Kovac’s introduction at least the free fall. Heidenheim remains on the relegation place.
Heidenheim will be a guest in Freiburg next week (February 7th, 3:30 p.m.). At the same time, Dortmund plays against VfB Stuttgart at home.