Heidenheim Faces Union Berlin in Desperate Bid to End Four-Month Winless Bundesliga Streak

1. FC Heidenheim will host 1. FC Union Berlin on Saturday, April 11, at 3:30 p.m. on Sky, seeking to end a winless run in the Bundesliga that has stretched more than four months. The club at the bottom of the table has not recorded a victory since a 2:1 win over SC Freiburg in early December 2025, a drought that coach Frank Schmidt described as a significant mental burden on his squad. With the gap to the relegation play-off spot standing at nine points, Heidenheim has already begun preparing for the likelihood of dropping out of the top flight at the end of the season. The 29th matchday also features VfB Stuttgart against Hamburger SV on Sunday, April 12, at 5:30 p.m. on DAZN, and SC Freiburg visiting Mainz 05 two hours later to close out the round.

Schmidt finds unexpected support at the barber's chair Frank Schmidt, 52, has been candid about the psychological weight the winless streak places on his players and staff. „To bear this is hard for all of us. We urgently need these three points for our feeling.” — Frank Schmidt via N-tv Despite the grim table position, Schmidt said he has not seen any player reduce effort in training, a fact he cited as a source of confidence heading into the final stretch of the season. He also recounted a telling encounter during the week when he visited a barber in Heidenheim. „The first person who saw me said: We are not going down.” — Frank Schmidt via N-tv Schmidt said he senses that residents of the city of 50,000 on the Brenz river want to give something back to the club in recognition of its work in recent years, describing the community cohesion as enormous. 9 (points) — gap between Heidenheim and the relegation play-off spot

Conteh ruled out for surgery as injury problems mount Heidenheim will be without attacking player Sirlord Conteh for the Union Berlin match and beyond. Conteh had already missed the 2:2 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach due to knee problems, and Schmidt confirmed the player will now undergo surgery. The coach said it remains unclear how long Conteh will be sidelined following the procedure. The absence adds to the challenges facing a squad already battling the psychological effects of a prolonged run without a win. Schmidt has not specified whether any other players are unavailable for the Saturday fixture.

Stuttgart and Freiburg chase European spots on Sunday evening While Heidenheim fights for survival, VfB Stuttgart and SC Freiburg enter the weekend with European ambitions intact. Stuttgart will face Hamburger SV in what sources describe as a traditional duel, with Champions League qualification spots at stake. The match is scheduled for Sunday at 5:30 p.m. on DAZN. SC Freiburg will then travel to Mainz 05 for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff, bringing the 29th matchday to a close. Both Stuttgart and Freiburg are described as fighting for points to secure renewed participation in European competitions next season.

Frank Schmidt has served as head coach of 1. FC Heidenheim for over 18 years, a tenure described in source articles as a record in German professional football. Heidenheim's last Bundesliga win before the current drought came against SC Freiburg in early December 2025, a 2:1 result. The club has been in the Bundesliga since the 2023/24 season, having previously spent years in the second division. Hamburger SV returned to the Bundesliga for the 2025/26 season after a period in the 2. Bundesliga.

Relegation play-off mathematics have effectively sealed Heidenheim's fate barring an extraordinary turnaround, but Schmidt has made clear that competitive spirit in training remains high and that the club intends to finish the season with dignity. The match against Union Berlin represents the 29th of 34 matchdays in the 2025/26 Bundesliga season, leaving six rounds after Saturday for Heidenheim to salvage points and pride before the campaign concludes.

1. FC Heidenheim, 1. FC Union Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, Hamburger SV, SC Freiburg, Mainz 05