1. FC Heidenheim

Overview

1. FC Heidenheim have shown they can compete with Germany's elite but remain inconsistent. A 4-1 demolition of Ingolstadt and back-to-back 3-1 victories over Köln and Union Berlin demonstrate their attacking threat. The draw against Bayern Munich - a side they matched at 3-3 - suggests they belong in this company.

Yet recent defeats expose fragility. Werder Bremen and Hamburger SV both won by two clear goals, leaving Heidenheim without answers in defence. The gap between their best and worst performances is stark.

Recent Form

Heidenheim have won three of their last six matches. They beat Ingolstadt 4-1 at home, then took successive 3-1 away wins at Köln and against Union Berlin. The draw with Bayern Munich was a respectable result on the road.

The losses tell a different story. Werder Bremen won 2-0 in Bremen. Hamburger SV beat them 2-0 at home - a particularly poor showing given Heidenheim's superior league standing.

Three wins, two defeats and one draw leaves them mid-table in form. The attacking quality is there - they've scored 14 goals in six games - but the defence has conceded 11. They need to tighten up if they want to push higher.