In a dramatic Bundesliga clash, Heidenheim clawed their way out of the relegation zone for the first time this season, securing a vital away victory against Köln. The win marks their first on the road in 2026 and sets up a nail-biting finale, with all three bottom clubs now level on 26 points heading into next week's decider.
The visitors struck early, capitalizing on a defensive error from Cenk Özkacar in the seventh minute. Jan Schöppner rose highest to head home a pinpoint cross from Arijon Ibrahimović, netting his first goal of the season. It was a dream start for a team fighting for survival.
Köln wasted no time responding. Just minutes later, goalkeeper Frank Feller—making only his second appearance—was called into action, making a sharp save. Then, in the ninth minute, Marius Bülter unleashed an unstoppable strike from a tight angle to level the score. The 33-year-old winger found the back of the net in consecutive games for the first time since the opening rounds of the campaign, reigniting hope for the home side.
The back-and-forth action continued, and Heidenheim reclaimed the lead before the half-hour mark. Despite sitting at the bottom of the table, they've made a habit of scoring at least two goals in seven of their last ten matches—and they did it again. Kristoffer Lund couldn't keep out Ibrahimović's powerful effort, putting the visitors ahead 2-1.
Heidenheim held their lead into halftime, though not without drama. Bülter and Marvin Pieringer both squandered golden opportunities to equalize, leaving the match finely poised. After the restart, the intensity didn't let up, with both teams frequently threatening in the final third.
Ibrahimović turned provider once more, setting up Schöppner for a potential brace just past the hour mark, but the midfielder couldn't convert. Moments later, the Bayern Munich loanee tried his luck himself, only to see Marvin Schwäbe make a routine save. At the other end, Luca Waldschmidt injected energy after replacing the more defensive Tom Krauß, while interim coach René Wagner gave club legend Florian Kainz a fitting farewell appearance at RheinEnergieStadion for his final 20 minutes. Kainz, who could reach 200 Bundesliga appearances against Bayern Munich before retiring, added an emotional layer to the contest.
But it was Schöppner who sealed the deal, extending Heidenheim's lead shortly after coming on. The victory breathes new life into their survival hopes, proving that in the Bundesliga, every point—and every moment—counts.