Borussia Dortmund will resume their Bundesliga campaign with an away fixture against FC Heidenheim on Saturday afternoon.
Having lost their first two league matches, FC Heidenheim will be eager to pick up their first points of the new season when they host Borussia Dortmund. However, facing one of the German giants certainly won’t be easy.
Heidenheim have had a disappointing start to the season. They suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of VfL Wolfsburg on Matchday 1 before losing 2-0 to RB Leipzig prior to the international break.
While Frank Schmidt’s men did put up a fight in the opening fixture, they were completely outplayed by Leipzig in Matchday 2. Although the international break provided a much-needed break, Heidenheim now face a massive test against Borussia Dortmund.
Meanwhile, Niko Kovac’s team began the season with a disappointing 3-3 draw against FC St. Pauli. Borussia Dortmund were in complete control of the match but threw it all away in the final five minutes.
However, the Black and Yellows bounced back with a 3-0 win over Union Berlin on Matchday 2, stamping their authority and getting their season back on track. Kovac will be hoping they can build on that momentum when they square up against Heidenheim. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
Heidenheim
The home team will be without the services of Marvin Pieringer, who is out with an ankle injury. But, apart from him, everyone else is expected to be available for selection.
Heidenheim are expected to switch to a back three for this fixture against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. The home side could go ahead with the 3-4-2-1 formation, where Diant Ramaj will take charge in goal.
At the heart of the defence, Tim Siersleben could start alongside Patrick Mainka and Benedikt Gimber. The trio will certainly have a tough day at the office against Dortmund forwards, but they will have the support of wing-backs Jonas Fohrenbach and Marnon-Thomas Busch.
In the centre of the park, Luca Kerber will partner with Niklas Dorsch. They will look to shield the backline and initiate quick counterattacks. Arijon Ibrahimovic and Mathias Honsak will take up the roles of attacking midfielders behind Budu Zivzivadze, who will start in Pieringer’s absence as the leader of the FC Heidenheim attack against Borussia Dortmund.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Ramaj; Siersleben, Gimber, Mainka; Fohrenbach, Kerber, Dorsch, Busch; Ibrahimovic, Honsak; Zivzivadze
Borussia Dortmund
While Nico Schlotterbeck is back in training, he is still a long way from being involved in the matchday squad. Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund will be without the services of Niklas Sule, Julian Brandt and summer signing Fabio Silva against FC Heidenheim.
The visitors will stick with the 3-4-2-1 formation, where Gregor Kobel will be in goal. The back three will be made up of Ramy Bensebaini, Waldemar Anton, and summer arrival Aaron Anselmino.
Meanwhile, Daniel Svensson and Yan Couto will feature as the wing-backs. They will look to provide support to the central defenders and, at the same time, join the attack whenever possible.
In the centre of the park, Jobe Bellingham should partner with Marcel Sabitzer. The duo will look to ensure they dominate the ball and control the tempo of the game. Karim Adeyemi and Maximilian Beier will be the two attacking players who will feature behind star striker Serhou Guirassy, who will lead the line for Borussia Dortmund against FC Heidenheim.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Kobel; Bensebaini, Anton, Anselmino; Svensson, Bellingham, Sabitzer, Couto; Adeyemi, Beier; Guirassy
Key Stats
- Heidenheim are yet to register a point in the new season, having lost their first two league outings.
- The home team could only win eight out of their 34 league games last season, and they survived the drop by the smallest of margins.
- Dortmund have bagged three goals each in their first two league outings of the season.
- Guirassy has bagged 18 goals in 2025; only Kylian Mbappe has more across Europe’s top five leagues.
- Heidenheim have failed to win any of their last four league outings against Dortmund.
Player to Watch
Karim Adeyemi
Adeyemi has not had the best start to the new season. He has only been on the pitch for a total of 48 minutes in the first two league games. The 23-year-old has not had much of an impact in the final third so far, but given his quality, it is only a matter of time before he makes it count.
He will be eager to get his name on the scoresheet when they square up against Heidenheim. While all the limelight will be on Guirassy, who is in red-hot form, the German international could play a big role in deciding the outcome of this fixture.
Prediction
FC Heidenheim 0-2 Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund should have too much quality and firepower for a struggling Heidenheim side, especially given the tactical familiarity both teams share with the 3-4-2-1 setup. The home team will likely sit deep and try to absorb pressure, hoping to catch Dortmund on the counter.
However, with Niko Kovac’s men having looked far more solid in their 3-0 victory over Union Berlin last time out, they should dominate possession and probe the home defence patiently. The combination of Jobe Bellingham and Marcel Sabitzer in midfield offers control and creativity, while Guirassy’s lethal finishing makes Dortmund’s attack a constant threat. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for the visitors.
