Heidenheim — Werder Bremen : Match Preview and Prediction for October 18,2025

Heidenheim’s Challenging Start

Heidenheim has faced a particularly difficult beginning to their season, having suffered five defeats in their last six games. Head coach Frank Schmidt is understandably under pressure, but the club is grappling with significant squad issues and a lack of depth. Their impressive debut season, which saw them secure an 8th-place finish and a spot in the Conference League, now feels like a distant and unrepresentative past.

Current Form and Injury Concerns

Following a hard-fought 0-1 away loss to Stuttgart in a gritty encounter, the red-and-blues currently sit at the very bottom of the league table after six matchdays, conceding nearly two goals on average per game. It remains to be seen if the home side can bring joy to their supporters in this upcoming fixture. While their injury list has slightly decreased, Pieringer, Conteh, Pacarada, Feller, and Beck are still confirmed to miss the game against the “Musicians” (Werder Bremen).

Werder Bremen’s Recent Trajectory and Coaching Change

A couple of seasons ago, Werder Bremen narrowly surpassed Heidenheim based on additional metrics, securing a 9th-place finish and missing out on the Conference League. Since then, however, the red-and-blues’ (Heidenheim’s) descent has been more abrupt, whereas the “Musicians” (Werder Bremen) have managed to maintain their position as a mid-table side.

Werder’s Current Campaign and Attacking Threat

Despite this, the current season looks to be very demanding. Ole Werner, after four seasons with the club, moved to Leipzig for a promotion, and the team has experienced considerable turbulence under Horst Steffen. The white-and-greens have conceded even more goals than Heidenheim (14 goals in 6 rounds), yet their offensive prowess, spearheaded by Boniface and Mbangula, somewhat compensates for their defensive frailties.

Post-International Break Performance and Injury Update

After suffering significant home defeats to Freiburg (0-3) and Bayern Munich (0-4) in Munich, Werder managed to enter the international break on a positive note, securing a 1-0 home victory against St. Pauli with Mbangula scoring in just the second minute. However, it remains to be seen how the Bremen squad will perform after the break, particularly as they are currently facing numerous squad selection challenges.For their encounter with Heidenheim, the visitors will be without Agu, Deman, Schmidt, Stark, Weiser, and Weber. Additionally, Stage, Malatini, and Backhaus are listed as doubtful. Losing nearly half of the squad is undoubtedly a substantial blow.