Cologne still in freefall?
The Bundesliga pros were only granted a few days’ break between Christmas and New Year. That’s because the top German league is restarting early in the new year.
It’s pure relegation battle in our Heidenheim vs. Cologne tip, with the bookies sending the cathedral city team into the match as favorites.
However, we consider this assessment by the betting providers to be rather risky. At the end of the first half of the season, Lukas Kwasniok’s team was struggling, while Heidenheim has been difficult to beat at home in recent weeks and months. That’s why our Heidenheim vs. Cologne prediction leans toward an undefeated game for the hosts.
Heidenheim vs. Cologne prediction AI
Just like us, the Heidenheim vs. Cologne AI prediction considers the visitors’ chances to be slightly overestimated according to the bookmakers’ odds. AI expects a very close match based on the expected goals for this game (Heidenheim 1.42 and Cologne 1.54).
AI also calculates a high probability of 59.7% that both teams will score on Saturday. Artificial intelligence considers a match with at least three goals during the game to be slightly less likely (52.4%).
Heidenheim – Statistics & current form
The Brenzstadt team has only picked up eleven points so far this season. When they did well, it was mostly at home on the Schlossberg, where Frank Schmidt’s team picked up eight of its eleven points. Nevertheless, the Heidenheim vs. Cologne odds in the bet-at-home app are against the home team.
Will Heidenheim score again at the Voith Arena?
Two wins, two draws, and four losses, two of them against BVB and Bayern Munich. At home on the Schlossberg, FCH has mostly been a very difficult opponent for teams in the German top flight. Heidenheim will be looking to use their fighting spirit and running strength to take points off 1. FC Köln in their upcoming home game.
We see good chances for this against the struggling Geißböcke in our Heidenheim vs. Köln prediction for the upcoming home game. Apart from Hoffenheim talent Hennes Behrens, who will also be missing due to injury, there were no major new signings for the Swabians during the short winter break.
However, we believe that Frank Schmidt’s team can still score points against the Billy Goats with their existing squad. The Brenzstadters have remained unbeaten in three of their last five home games. Due to their precarious situation at the bottom of the table, the Swabians are under pressure to score points against a direct competitor in the relegation battle – preferably three.
Cologne – Statistics & current form
After a brilliant start to the season, the Billy Goats’ performance curve flattened noticeably towards the end of last year. The Rhinelanders celebrated their last victory at the beginning of November in their own stadium against HSV, who are weak away from home.
Can Cologne secure their third away win?
The Billy Goats have only managed two away wins so far this season (2-2-4). In addition to the victory at bottom-of-the-table Mainz, there was a surprise away win in Hoffenheim. However, Cologne celebrated both victories in early fall 2025. This was followed by a dry spell of four away games without a win (0-2-2).
As they have not won a home game in several weeks, “Effzeh” has slipped down the table again after a promising start to the season. Cologne currently still has a cushion between itself and the relegation zone, but if Heidenheim’s prediction of a home win against Cologne comes true, things could slowly start to get uncomfortable for the promoted team. A win would bring the upcoming host within two points of the Rhinelanders.
Heidenheim – Cologne Head-to-head record
The two teams have faced each other four times so far, twice in the Bundesliga and twice in the German second division.
Each side has celebrated one victory in these four encounters, with the points being shared twice. In Germany’s top flight, the Swabians are still unbeaten against the Cathedral City team (1-1-0).
The last duel at the Voith Arena ended in a clear 4-1 victory for the home team. If Frank Schmidt’s team scores again against the Billy Goats this coming Sunday, the bookies will pay out decent Heidenheim vs. Cologne betting odds.
Heidenheim – Cologne Tip
The initial euphoria that usually characterizes promoted teams has recently evaporated in Cologne. Slowly but surely, the “Effzeh” is being classified in the Bundesliga where it belongs in terms of performance. Namely, in the lower third of the 1st Bundesliga. We also don’t believe in a big breakthrough in our Heidenheim vs. Cologne tip for this coming Saturday.
Cologne’s hopes once again rest on youngster Said El-Mala on Saturday. The shooting star of this preliminary round, who has already had a taste of the national team under Julian Nagelsmann, is likely to be used as a substitute again this Saturday. His late goals earned FC Cologne many points in the first half of the season. The betting options “El-Mala scores” or “Cologne scores in the second half” are certainly interesting again against the vulnerable Heidenheim defense.
After weak performances at home at Schlossberg in the previous season, Heidenheim was able to at least partially build on its strong home performances from its debut season in the German top flight in the first half of this season. The Swabians picked up four points at home against Europa League participants Freiburg and Frankfurt, as well as points against Augsburg and Bremen at their home ground, the Voith Arena.
With Cologne, the Swabians now face an opponent whose performance is most comparable to that of the latter two teams. And we believe the Swabians can do well in this match too.
Frank Schmidt prepared his team for their first points of the year and the long relegation battle this season not in Spain, but in the cold at home. How well the iconic Heidenheim coach has succeeded will be seen for the first time on Saturday.
