Bayer Leverkusen will have the Bundesliga top four in their sights when they take on 1.FC Heidenheim on Saturday night.
Bayer Leverkusen will aim to return to winning ways in the Bundesliga when they host struggling Heidenheim at the BayArena on Saturday afternoon. After a strong midweek performance in Europe, the home side will be eager to build consistency in their domestic campaign, while the visitors search desperately for a spark to lift them off the bottom of the table.
After being humbled 3-0 by Bayern Munich in last weekend’s heavyweight clash, Leverkusen offered the perfect response in midweek, grinding out a 1-0 win away to Benfica in the Champions League. The result not only steadied the ship but also showcased Kasper Hjulmand’s growing influence on a squad rich with attacking potential and tactical flexibility.
Domestically, Die Werkself sit just outside the top four with 17 points from nine matches, a tally that reflects both promise and missed opportunities. Their free-flowing attack has been among the Bundesliga’s most potent, with Leverkusen ranking third for goals scored this season. When in full rhythm, their interchanging frontline and creative midfield can dismantle any opponent, and facing one of the league’s leakiest defences could provide an ideal platform to reassert their top-four credentials.
Hjulmand’s men have claimed three victories in their last four matches across all competitions, suggesting momentum is once again on their side. The challenge now will be to translate that European efficiency into domestic dominance and avoid the occasional lapses that have cost them points against mid-table sides.
Heidenheim arrive in Leverkusen winless in their last five Bundesliga fixtures, yet their performances have rarely been as poor as their results suggest. Frank Schmidt’s men, currently sitting at the foot of the table with just five points, continue to show the fight and organisation that carried them through last season’s survival battle.
The long-serving coach, now in his 18th year in charge, retains the unwavering support of the club and its fans. His journey from guiding Heidenheim out of Germany’s fifth division to the Bundesliga remains one of the sport’s most remarkable modern stories. That continuity and faith have allowed him to navigate difficult spells before, and he will hope for a similar turnaround this time.
There have been glimpses of promise amid their struggles. A battling 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend demonstrated resilience, while narrow defeats to Stuttgart and a spirited 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen underline that they can compete against stronger opposition. What they lack in star power, they make up for in work ethic and tactical discipline, qualities they will need in abundance against Leverkusen’s high-pressing attack. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen will once again be without several key midfielders heading into the weekend clash at the BayArena. Ezequiel Fernandez remains sidelined due to a lingering knee injury that has kept him out of the last three fixtures. The Argentine midfielder’s absence continues to leave a void in Leverkusen’s central setup.
Fellow countryman Exequiel Palacios is also unavailable, having struggled with a persistent groin issue since September. His creativity and control in midfield will be missed, particularly against compact opposition. In addition to the duo, right-back Axel Tape is recovering from a hamstring problem, while winger Nathan Tella remains out of contention with a knee injury.
There are no new suspension concerns for head coach Kasper Hjulmand, though the Danish tactician will have to make careful midfield adjustments to balance energy and possession against a hard-working Heidenheim side.
Leverkusen are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, which Hjulmand has favoured in recent weeks. Mark Flekken will take his place between the posts, protected by a back three comprising Jarell Quansah on the right, Loic Bade in the center, and Edmond Tapsoba on the left of defence.
In the wing-back roles, Arthur will operate on the right flank, offering width and delivery, while Alejandro Grimaldo provides attacking thrust and creativity down the left. The central midfield pairing of Robert Andrich and Aleix Garcia will aim to control possession and link play between the lines.
Further upfield, Jonas Hofmann and Ernest Poku will play just behind the main striker, drifting into pockets of space to supply chances and exploit gaps. Leading the line will be Patrik Schick, whose movement and finishing ability make him the focal point of Bayer Leverkusen’s attacking efforts against FC Heidenheim.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Flekken; Quansah, Bade, Tapsoba; Arthur, Andrich, García, Grimaldo; Hofmann, Poku; Schick
1.FC Heidenheim
Heidenheim continue to deal with several injury concerns as they prepare for their visit to the BayArena to take on Bayer Leverkusen. The team will once again be without Sirlord Conteh, who remains sidelined with a troublesome knee injury. The 29-year-old forward has not featured since September, when he scored and assisted in the club’s only Bundesliga victory of the season against Augsburg. His absence deprives Frank Schmidt’s side of much-needed pace and directness in the final third.
Adding to their woes, Leart Paqarada is ruled out with a knee problem. Paqarada’s defensive nous and crossing ability down the left flank will be sorely missed. Fortunately, Schmidt has no players suspended for this clash, allowing him to retain a largely settled starting eleven despite the injuries.
Against Bayer Leverkusen, Heidenheim are likely to line up in a 4-4-2 formation, a system that manager Frank Schmidt has relied upon to maintain defensive discipline while seeking quick transitions on the break. Diant Ramaj is expected to start in goal, supported by a back four consisting of Omar Traore at right-back, Patrick Mainka and Tim Siersleben forming the central defensive partnership, and Jonas Fohrenbach slotting in on the left side of defence.
In midfield, Adrian Beck will occupy the right flank, offering width and energy, while Julian Niehues and Jan Schoppner form a combative central duo responsible for disrupting Leverkusen’s rhythm and recycling possession. On the left, Arijon Ibrahimovic will look to drift inside and link up with the forwards.
Leading the attack, Stefan Schimmer is expected to partner Budu Zivzivadze, with the pair combining physical presence and intelligent movement to trouble Leverkusen’s backline. Schimmer’s work rate and aerial ability complement Zivzivadze’s predatory instincts in the box, giving Heidenheim a potential outlet in counter-attacking situations against Bayer Leverkusen.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Ramaj; Traore, Mainka, Siersleben, Fohrenbach; Beck, Niehues, Schoppner, Ibrahimovic; Schimmer, Zivzivadze
Key Stats
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Bayer Leverkusen have won all of their last four meetings with Heidenheim in all competitions.
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Heidenheim have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 12 matches.
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Bayer Leverkusen have averaged around 2.0 goals scored per game and about 1.6 goals conceded per game in the Bundesliga so far this season.
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Heidenheim have averaged roughly 0.9 goals scored per game and 1.9 goals conceded per game in their Bundesliga matches this season.
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In the last five head-to-head matches, four of them have featured at least three total goals.
Player to Watch
Jonas Hofmann
Few players embody Bayer Leverkusen’s attacking intelligence and tactical fluidity quite like Jonas Hofmann. The 33-year-old German international has seamlessly adapted to Kasper Hjulmand’s system, becoming a vital creative outlet and link between midfield and attack.
Operating primarily as an advanced playmaker behind the striker, Hofmann’s vision and positional awareness make him instrumental in unlocking compact defences, something Leverkusen are likely to face against Heidenheim’s low block. His knack for arriving late in the box, combined with a calmness in possession, gives Die Werkself an extra dimension in the final third.
Beyond his technical quality, Hofmann’s work rate and pressing intensity often set the tone for Leverkusen’s aggressive transitions. Whether it’s threading passes into tight spaces or drifting wide to combine with the wing-backs, he remains at the heart of everything positive the hosts create.
With Heidenheim expected to sit deep and defend in numbers, Hofmann’s ability to dictate tempo and exploit half-spaces could prove decisive. If he finds his rhythm early, Bayer Leverkusen’s attack will likely flow through him, and that could spell trouble for FC Heidenheim.
Prediction
Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 1. FC Heidenheim
Bayer Leverkusen enter this fixture as overwhelming favourites, buoyed by their recent Champions League success and an attacking lineup that thrives on quick combinations and relentless movement. Playing at the BayArena, where they have been dominant all season, Kasper Hjulmand’s men should control possession and create chances almost at will against a Heidenheim side that tends to struggle defensively on the road.
Heidenheim’s resilience and organisation cannot be discounted. Frank Schmidt’s team have shown they can frustrate superior opponents for long spells, but their lack of cutting edge in front of goal and vulnerability against rapid transitions could prove costly here. Unless they produce a near-perfect defensive performance, it is difficult to see them containing Leverkusen’s fluid attack orchestrated by Jonas Hofmann.
Expect Leverkusen to dictate the tempo from the outset, stretching the visitors wide and pinning them deep in their own half. If the hosts take an early lead, the game could quickly tilt one-sided. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-0 win for Kasper Hjulmand and his charges.
