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Key Takeaways
- Bayer Leverkusen is hosting 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 in a Bundesliga match.
- Leverkusen is coming off a Champions League win, aiming to translate that confidence into their league performance.
- Historically, Leverkusen has dominated Heidenheim in Bundesliga encounters, winning all four previous matches.
- Heidenheim is struggling with away form, yet to secure any points on the road this season.
- The match is not available on free-to-air TV but will be broadcast on Sky (TV and stream) and DAZN (conference).
- A live ticker will be available on SPORT1.
Match Preview: Bayer Leverkusen vs. 1. FC Heidenheim
Bayer 04 Leverkusen is set to face 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 in a Bundesliga clash at the BayArena. The match will feature Kasper Hjulmand managing Leverkusen and Frank Schmidt, a long-standing figure, at the helm of Heidenheim.
Leverkusen enters the match with boosted morale following a 1-0 victory against Benfica Lisbon in the Champions League. Patrick Schick, as a substitute, scored the decisive goal, assisted by Alejandro Grimaldo, while goalkeeper Mark Flekken secured the win. Hjulmand emphasized the significance of this win as a step towards the knockout phase and aims to carry this winning momentum into their Bundesliga campaign.
Historically, Leverkusen holds a significant advantage over Heidenheim. They have won all four of their previous Bundesliga encounters. Furthermore, Leverkusen has recently achieved two consecutive home victories without conceding a goal for the first time since December 2023. Despite a recent 0-3 loss to Bayern Munich, Leverkusen has avoided consecutive Bundesliga defeats in the current calendar year.
However, the situation is quite different for Heidenheim, who are currently struggling. Their record of five points from nine games marks a new low for the club, with all points secured at their home ground, the Voith-Arena. Heidenheim is the only team in 2025 yet to earn a point away from home and has suffered four consecutive away losses at the start of the season. Another defeat in this match would equal the club’s negative record.
Defensively, Heidenheim has not kept a clean sheet in their last ten league matches. A positive sign is the performance of young player Arijon Ibrahimovic. At 19 years old, he provided his first Bundesliga assist in the 1-2 loss against Frankfurt and has been involved in 32 shots on goal, more than double that of any of his teammates.
Tactical and Statistical Insights
Leverkusen’s style of play is characterized by their passing accuracy and high volume of passes. They average 580 passes per game with an 88 percent pass completion rate, placing them second in the league behind Bayern Munich. In contrast, Heidenheim averages 345 passes with a 76 percent completion rate, ranking them second to last in the league.
As a result, Leverkusen has led games for a total of 523 minutes this season, second only to Munich. Heidenheim, on the other hand, has only led for 80 minutes, the lowest in the league, indicating their struggles to control matches.
Both clubs have utilized a large number of players, with 24 different players featuring for each team. However, the composition of their starting lineups differs significantly. Leverkusen has fielded only eight German players in their starting eleven, while Heidenheim has had 83 starts by German players, showcasing a greater reliance on domestic talent.
Broadcast Information
The match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 will not be broadcast on free-to-air television. Viewers can watch the game live on Sky (both TV and stream) and DAZN (as part of their conference coverage). A live ticker will be available on SPORT1, providing real-time updates and commentary.