Heidenheim – Elversberg

Elversberg will get off to a good start against the Bundesliga side

Last year's Bundesliga clash was remembered by neutral fans as one of the most dramatic in history. Fortuna took away a 3-0 win in the first leg in Bochum and were preparing to put a triumphant end to the clash at home. However, in Düsseldorf the local players collapsed with the same score, and in the penalty shootout Bochum was stronger. The Ruhr club is out for the current season and next season will play with Fortuna in the Second Bundesliga, while Heidenheim and Elversberg now enter the arena. The former entered the Bundesliga at the end of the championship the season before last. The team spent its first ever season in the elite at a more than decent level, earning the right to represent Germany in the Conference League. In the current Bundesliga season, Heidenheim showed less zeal and were better than only Holstein Kiel and the aforementioned Bochum. Elversberg's fate is somewhat reminiscent of Leipzig's progression after the arrival of big capitals to that club. However, this team was not the result of huge cash injections, but is the fruit of the coaching activities of Horst Steffen. This specialist is completing his seventh season at the helm of Elversberg, which back in the 2021/2022 season played in the South-West Regional League. In two Second Bundesliga campaigns, Steffen's charges have grown to one of the division leaders, who are just one point away from the direct promotion zone, having let long-suffering Hamburg into the Bundesliga. Bookmakers have identified the hosts as favourites for the upcoming meeting, offering odds of 2.25 on their victory. Heidenheim before the start of the clash lacks the winning spirit. In the last round of the championship, the team lost at home to Werder with a score of 1:4. In turn, Elversberg solved the task at the finish of the season in the most confident style, winning three times in a row. Heidenheim have slightly improved the level of their game compared to the failed end of 2024, but the team is not so fresh and ambitious compared to their rival from the Second Bundesliga. Let's bet that the guests will successfully make the first step towards playing in the German elite.