Elversberg vs Heidenheim prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga – Relegation betting tips on match 2025-05-25 18:30.
[p]From the depths of the fourth tier of German football as recently as 2022, Elversberg are potentially just 90 minutes away from the Bundesliga after a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their promotion/relegation play-off against Heidenheim on Thursday. While they boast home advantage for the return fixture, things could have been so much better for Horst Steffen’s men, who saw a two-goal lead evaporate in the space of two second-half minutes.[/p]
[p]Though disappointing, that result extended their unbeaten run to nine matches (W5, D4) and gives them a huge chance to become just the second 2. Bundesliga side to earn promotion via the play-off in the last 12 seasons. That would mark Elversberg’s third promotion in four campaigns, and make them one of modern football’s great success stories considering that the club is based in a town so small they don’t even have a train station![/p]
[p]Heidenheim find themselves in the unfamiliar role of the established club in this match, despite only making their top-flight bow in 2023. Boss Frank Schmidt is the longest-serving manager of a single club in German football history, and having overseen four promotions, he should be confident of avoiding a first relegation considering that FCH have won three of their last four Bundesliga away matches (L1).[/p]
[p]None of those games saw both teams score, so Heidenheim will be determined to keep things tight and hope their pedigree, which took them to the UEFA Conference League knockout stages earlier this year, shines through. The omens are against them, however, as this is the first promotion/relegation play-off to see the first leg drawn since 2019, when Heidenheim were eventually beaten by Werder Bremen.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Elversberg’s Lukas Petkov opened the scoring in the first leg with his fourth successive strike to arrive before half-time. Leo Scienza led the Heidenheim fightback, assisting both of his side’s goals after being introduced at the break, so he could be in line for a start as he hunts a first domestic goal since January.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Each of the last four Bundesliga promotion/relegation play-offs have seen the second leg decided by multiple-goal margins in favour of the Bundesliga team.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Ryan Fisher[/i][/p]