Bayer Leverkusen vs 1. FC Heidenheim

This will be only the fourth meeting between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and 1. FC Heidenheim in professional football. The Werkself won the two Bundesliga fixtures last season, 4-1 at home and 2-1 away. Their only competitive defeat to Heidenheim came in the DFB-Pokal back in 2018/19: FCH won 2-1 at home in the round of 16.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have dropped points in six Bundesliga games already this season (D5, L1), as often as they did during the entirety of their 2023/24 title-winning campaign (D6). The Werkself are on a three-game winless run in the Bundesliga (D3) for the first time since April/May 2023 (5 games back then).

1. FC Heidenheim are without a win in five Bundesliga games (D1, L4) and have only ever endured a longer drought in the top flight from February to March 2024 (6 games). After two wins to start the season, Heidenheim have managed just one victory from their last eight games – during this period, only VfL Bochum (2) have claimed fewer points than Frank Schmidt’s side (4).

With 17 points from 10 games, Bayer 04 Leverkusen are enduring the worst Bundesliga campaign by a reigning champion in 12 years – Borussia Dortmund had 16 points in 2012/13. In league history, only eight teams with this record or worse at this stage have ever gone on to win the title, while only VfL Wolfsburg have done it this century (2008/09).

After conceding a late equaliser last time out at VfL Bochum, Bayer 04 Leverkusen have already dropped 11 points from winning positions in the Bundesliga this season, a joint league high together with VfL Wolfsburg. The Werkself didn’t squander a single point from a winning position last season.