1899 Hoffenheim delivered a dominant performance to defeat 1. FC Heidenheim 4-2 at the Voith-Arena, with Alexander Prass starring for the visitors.
The Bundesliga clash on March 7, 2026, saw Hoffenheim solidify their position at the top end of the table. Meanwhile, Heidenheim continued to struggle, languishing in the relegation zone.
The visitors, sitting third in the league, quickly asserted their control. They pressed high and created early opportunities against a Heidenheim side ranked 18th.
Alexander Prass opened the scoring for 1899 Hoffenheim in the 26th minute. Fisnik Asllani provided the assist for the midfielder's well-placed strike.
Prass then doubled his tally and Hoffenheim's lead just before half-time. In the 45th minute, Prass slotted home a second, assisted by Andrej Kramaric, giving the visitors a comfortable cushion.
Heidenheim needed a strong response after the break. Head coach Frank Schmidt made immediate changes, bringing on Mathias Honsak and Marvin Pieringer.
However, Hoffenheim extended their lead soon after the restart. Fisnik Asllani found the net in the 49th minute, making it 3-0 for the away side and seemingly putting the game out of reach.
1. FC Heidenheim found a lifeline in the 63rd minute. Luca Kerber pulled one back for the hosts, assisted by Patrick Mainka, igniting a flicker of hope.
The game opened up further as both teams sought goals. Heidenheim thought they had another, but a goal from Sirlord Conteh was disallowed for offside by VAR in the 70th minute.
Hoffenheim then restored their three-goal advantage. Substitute Tim Lemperle scored in the 78th minute, with a clever assist from Bazoumana Touré, making it 4-1.
Yet, Heidenheim refused to give up. Luca Kerber scored his second goal of the match in the 84th minute, again assisted by Patrick Mainka. This brought the score to 4-2, adding late drama.
Hoffenheim dominated possession with 56% and registered 16 total shots, seven of which were on target. Their expected goals (xG) stood at 2.32, indicating their attacking threat. Heidenheim managed only seven shots with two on target, and an xG of 0.99.
This victory significantly boosts 1899 Hoffenheim's push for European qualification. Conversely, 1. FC Heidenheim remains firmly entrenched at the bottom of the Bundesliga table, facing an uphill battle for survival.
