Bundesliga
After a dramatic weekend of final-day action across Germany's top two divisions, the stage is set for an exciting relegation-promotion play-off between Bundesliga side Heidenheim and Elversberg of Bundesliga 2.
As is customary, the side that finishes in 16th place in the top flight takes on the third-best finishers in the second tier to decide who gets to compete in the Bundesliga when a new season begins.
This time around, the play-off is a true tale for the footballing romantics, with Frank Shmidt's Heidenheim hosting Horst Steffen's Elversberg.
The tie's first-leg takes place at Heidenheim's Voith-Arena on Thursday, 22 May, with the return encounter set for the Waldstadion Kaiserlinde the following Monday (26 May).
Predicted line-ups
Elversberg: Kristof – Baum, Rohr, Le Joncour, Neubauer – Fellhauer (c), Şahin - Petkov, Damar, Zimmerschied – Asllani
Doubtful: -
Out: Pinckert (suspended), Jäkel (knee)
Coach: Horst Steffen
Heidenheim: Müller – Gimber, Mainka (c), Siersleben – Traoré, Dorsch, Schöppner, Föhrenbach – Wanner, Beck – Pieringer
Doubtful: Krätzig (ill)
Out: Janes (muscular),
Coach: Frank Schmidt
Playing in what was only their second-ever season in the Bundesliga in 2024/25, Heidenheim were competing in European competition against the likes of UEFA Conference League finalists Chelsea thanks to an eighth-place finish in their maiden campaign.
With the departure of several high-profile names and the addition of European nights, Schmidt's team found the going a little tougher this time around, but Germany's longest-ever serving professional coach is ready for the challenge his team will next face against Elversberg.
"We're not disappointed by the fact that we're playing in [this] play-off," the 51-year-old said. "We're Heidenheim and this was our second year in the Bundesliga. We have a chance to stay in the league with two extra games and we're approaching them with determination and a positive attitude," the tactician added.
For their part, Saarland-based side Elversberg completed a stunning campaign with a 2-1 victory at Schalke to secure third place in Bundesliga 2 on the final day of the season.
With just one loss in their final 15 games this term and having finished as the division's joint-second highest scorers, the team that had previously never played above the third tier of German football before 2023 will go into the play-off in high spirits.