Goals: 0-1 Sch\u00f6ppner 8′ (assist: Ibrahimovi\u0107), 1-1 B\u00fclter 10′ (assist: Krau\u00df), 1-2 Ibrahimovi\u0107 28′, 1-3 Sch\u00f6ppner 72′ (assist: Dink\u00e7i)<\/p>\n
With Bundesliga survival on the line, Heidenheim travelled to Cologne knowing that only a win would keep their hopes alive ahead of the final day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cologne, who had already secured their own top-flight status, made three changes from their 2-2 draw at Union Berlin.<\/p>\n
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The Cologne fans unveiled a spectacular tifo display ahead of kick-off at the RheinEnergieStadion. – IMAGO\/Jordi Mergen <\/p>\n
Dream start for Heidenheim<\/p>\n
The visitors wasted no time in making their intentions clear. In the eighth minute, Arijon Ibrahimovi\u0107<\/a> capitalised on a Cologne error in possession on the left flank, delivering a precise cross into the box where\u00a0Sch\u00f6ppner<\/a> attacked brilliantly to head home and give the visitors a dream start.<\/p>\n Cologne responded almost immediately:\u00a0Tom Krau\u00df<\/a> played a lovely through-ball into the box for Marius B\u00fclter<\/a>, who fired the ball over Frank Feller<\/a> and into the far corner to level matters in the tenth minute.<\/p>\n Jan Sch\u00f6ppner heads Heidenheim in front with the opening goal of the match. – Lars Baron <\/p>\n The match continued at a breathless pace. Both sides created chances, with Sa\u00efd El Mala<\/a> going close for Cologne and Budu Zivzivadze<\/a> threatening for the visitors. In the 28th minute, Heidenheim regained the lead as Eren Dink\u00e7i<\/a> drove into the penalty area before the ball broke to Ibrahimovi\u0107, whose shot from the edge of the box deflected off Kristoffer Lund<\/a> and crept into the net.<\/p>\n Dink\u00e7i was booked in the 30th minute for a foul on\u00a0Jo\u00ebl Schmied<\/a>, and Zivzivadze also received a yellow card in the 37th minute. Cologne’s\u00a0Marvin Schw\u00e4be<\/a> produced a fine save to deny Marvin Pieringer<\/a> just before the break, ensuring the sides went in at half-time with Heidenheim leading 2-1.<\/p>\n Arijon Ibrahimovi\u0107’s shot deflects in off Kristoffer Lund to make it 2-1 to Heidenheim. – IMAGO\/Maik H\u00f6lter\/TEAM2sportphoto <\/p>\n Cologne push but Heidenheim hold firm<\/p>\n The hosts dominated possession in the second half, with 63 per cent of the ball, and pressed for an equaliser.<\/p>\n Heidenheim remained dangerous on the counter, with Sch\u00f6ppner going close in the 62nd minute before Ibrahimovi\u0107 was denied by Schw\u00e4be.\u00a0Alessio Castro-Montes<\/a> and Florian Kainz<\/a> came on for Cologne in the 71st minute, with Kainz making his final home appearance before retiring at the end of the season.<\/p>\n Arijon Ibrahimovi\u0107 celebrates with his Heidenheim team-mates after scoring the second goal. – IMAGO\/DeFodi.de <\/p>\n Sch\u00f6ppner seals it with a second<\/p>\n Any hopes of a Billygoats comeback were extinguished in the 72nd minute. Dink\u00e7i played a clever one-two with Sch\u00f6ppner, who received the return pass and finished calmly into the net to make it 3-1 and notch his first Bundesliga brace.<\/p>\n Feller then produced a superb save to deny B\u00fclter’s header, and Castro-Montes headed narrowly wide as the hosts pressed in vain.<\/p>\n Despite six minutes of added time, Heidenheim held on comfortably for a 3-1 victory.<\/p>\n Jan Sch\u00f6ppner fires home his second goal of the afternoon to put Heidenheim 3-1 ahead. – Lars Baron <\/p>\n Player of the Match: Jan Sch\u00f6ppner<\/p>\n Sch\u00f6ppner was the standout performer on the day, earning the Player of the Match award with 56 per cent of the votes.<\/p>\n The Heidenheim midfielder’s brace saw him heading in the opener in the eighth minute and then finishing coolly for the third goal in the 72nd minute, marking his first Bundesliga brace.<\/p>\n He also led all players with 14 challenges won and was a constant threat throughout, combining effectively with Dink\u00e7i and Ibrahimovi\u0107 in Heidenheim’s attacking play.<\/p>\n Jan Sch\u00f6ppner celebrates after completing his brace to seal Heidenheim’s 3-1 victory. – Lars Baron <\/p>\n Bundesliga Match Facts<\/p>\n![\"App-Clickout](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/480_Interactive_EN_RBL.png\"\/)
<\/a>Ibrahimovi\u0107 restores the lead<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
xGoals: Cologne 2.0 – Heidenheim 1.71
Fastest player: Sa\u00efd El Mala (Cologne), 35.49 km\/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-1 by Marius B\u00fclter (Cologne), 4 percent
Most pressed player: Jakub Kami\u0144ski (Cologne), 21 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Marvin Schw\u00e4be (Cologne), +3.55<\/p>\n