Highlights

Matchday 34

FINAL

Voith-Arena

1. FC Köln

BesteJan-Niklas Beste

78'

64'

36'

22'

16'

T. Welz

Voith-Arena

Full-time: Heidenheim 4-1 Cologne

Cologne are relegated. Timo Schultz's side just couldn't muster the necessary performance that might have helped their cause and instead, Heidenheim put on a show as they boosted their chances of playing in Europe next season. Eren Dinkçi's double and a Kevin Sessa strike had the hosts 3-0 up at the break while Jan Niklas-Beste added a fourth in the second half as last season's second-division champions finished eighth in their maiden Bundesliga campaign.

Full-time

90'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes

Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.

Eren Sami Dinkci34.50km/h

Timo Hübers33.25km/h

Jan-Niklas Beste33.18km/h

87'

Substitution

Marvin Pieringer

Jan-Niklas Beste

87'

Substitution

Denis Thomalla

Jan Schöppner

80'

Substitution

Norman Theuerkauf

Eren Dinkçi

78'

Beste belter

Jan-Niklas Beste is allowed to run at the Hoffenheim defence and he swipes at the ball from distance, sending a swerving shot high into the goal to the home fan's delight! The hosts are in eighth spot as things stand, which could yet be confirmed as a European spot.

78'

Jan-Niklas Beste

GOAL!

4:1

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

2 %

Shot speed

Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.

109.29 km/h

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

27.98 m

77'

Yellow card

Linton Maina

76'

Substitution

Florian Dietz

Eric Martel

76'

Yellow card

Tim Kleindienst

66'

Substitution

Florian Pick

Kevin Sessa

65'

Tigges on target

Steffen Tigges rises at the back post to edge home a goal for Cologne. The Billy-Goats are facing an uphill task in trying to turn this game around but they do have something to build on now.

65'

SituationGoal

ReviewOffside?

DecisionGoal

64'

Steffen Tigges

GOAL!

3:1

Goal probability

97 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

2.75 m

62'

Substitution

Leart Paqarada

Dominique Heintz

55'

Substitution

Rasmus Carstensen

Jan Thielmann

52'

Yellow card

Timo Hübers

50'

SituationNo penalty

ReviewFoul?

DecisionNo penalty

Kick-off!

45'

+ 3

Substitution

Damion Downs

Faride Alidou

45'

+ 3

Substitution

Mark Uth

Florian Kainz

Half-time

Half-time: Heidenheim 3-0 Cologne

The Billy-Goats look all but down after a chastening first half in which Eren Dinkçi's double was added to by an eye-catching Kevin Sessa strike.

36'

Heidenheim cruising

More poor defending from Cologne and Kevin Sessa makes the most of it in some style. The 23-year-old drags the ball from under his feet before pinging a fine left-footed shot into the corner.

36'

Kevin Sessa

GOAL!

3:0

Goal probability

3 %

Shot speed

Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.

102.35 km/h

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

20.91 m

30'

Yellow card

Florian Kainz

30'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes

Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.

Eren Sami Dinkci34.50km/h

Jan-Niklas Beste32.86km/h

Faride Alidou32.56km/h

22'

Dinkçi at the double

Heidenheim fans are jubilant as Eren Dinkçi shows some wonderful feet to jink his way through before applying a smart finish. Cologne are in big trouble.

22'

Eren Dinkçi

GOAL!

2:0

Goal probability

32 %

Shot speed

Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.

92.21 km/h

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

15.41 m

20'

As it stands

The stars had to align for Cologne to avoid relegation today. That's not happening thus far. Going behind to an Eren Dinkçi double here means Timo Schultz's side are down, as things stand right now. Heidenheim are sitting above Werder Brmen in ninth.

16'

Heidenheim in front

Eren Dinkçi's shot from the edge of the area takes a massive deflection off Chabot and bounces in.

16'

Eren Dinkçi

GOAL!

1:0

Goal probability

7 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

18.31 m

Game on!

The action is underway at the Voith-Arena.

Kick-off!

More on those teams

Dominique Heintz is in Cologne's starting eleven for the first time this year while Dejan Ljubicic is also in from the start for first time since Matchday 29. Steffen Tigges, Linton Maina and Jan Thielmann are also new to the side. This is the first time Cologne are showing five changes to a team in 2024. Heidenheim's top scorer Tim Kleindienst returns from suspension while Lennard Maloney is in for Norman Theuerkauf.

Heidenheim starting XI

Müller - Traoré, Mainka (c), Gimber, Föhrenbach - Schöppner, Maloney - Dinkçi, Sessa, Beste - Kleindienst

Heidenheim subs

Eicher, Siersleben, Treuerkauf, Pick, Dovedan, Beck, Schimmer, Thomalia, Pieringer

Cologne starting XI

Schwäbe - Thielmann, Hübers, Chabot, Heintz - Ljubicic, Martel - Alidou, Kainz (c), Maina - Tigges

Cologne subs

Pentke, Paqarada, Carstensen, Bakatukanda, Christensen, Uth, Adamyan, Dietz, Downs

Raab ahead of Cologne

The Heidenheim assistant coach said: "We want to win the match so that we remain in the top half. If things go in our favour on the pitch, we will be delighted. It's an absolute all-or-nothing match for Cologne. I am expecting a really intensive match against determined opponents, who will throw everything into it."

No Schmit for season swansong

Heidenheim coach Frank Schmidt will not be on the touchline in the final match of the club's debut Bundesliga season as he underwent an operation earlier in the week. Assistant Bernhard Raab will instead take charge of Heidenheim against Cologne.

Schultz ahead of Heidenheim

"As we’ve always said over the last few weeks, we’ll believe to the very end. Mathematically everything’s possible. We know there are many possibilities, many permutations in the build-up to the game. But above all, we know we have to win our match. That’s the thing we can influence, it’s been our focus all week. Obviously it’s not a normal week or normal situation for us, but I’ve followed and been part of so many last matchdays, penultimate matchdays and play-offs in my life and career. The most amazing things can happen. The last match gave us a real push. We’ll take that with us to Heidenheim. We’ll play our part and win the game, and we’ll see what happens in Berlin. We’re ready for everything."

Follow Euro 2024 in the Bundesliga app!

The Bundesliga season concludes this weekend, but eyes will very quickly be back on Germany as Europe’s finest appear across Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 stadiums for UEFA Euro 2024. And you can keep up with every game at this summer's tournament in Germany in our match centres, plus news, stats, analysis and more in the Bundesliga app!

Win fan shop vouchers, signed jerseys and official Bundesliga match balls!

The DFL is giving away prizes around Bundesliga Matchday 34. Click HERE for your chance to win!

What's at stake?

The hosts can end a fairytale first season in the Bundesliga with the possibility of qualifying for European competition but they will need a win and results elsewhere going their way for that to come into view. Cologne are in a must-win position and even if they manage to take all three points, Die Geißböcke would be relying on results elsewhere to avoid the drop.

2:03

Last time out

Timo Schultz took to the Cologne bench for the first time and oversaw a 1-1 draw against Heidenheim when the teams last met on Matchday 17.

2:03

Watch: Freiburg 1-1 Heidenheim

Kevin Sessa was on the scoresheet last weekend as Heidenheim earned a point that kept their distant hopes of a European finish alive.

2:03

Watch: Cologne 3-2 Union

The Billy-Goats looked to be heading for relegation, until a dramatic turnaround against their relegation rivals Union kept the drop at bay for one more week on Matchday 33.

Hello and welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 34 fixture between Heidenheim and Köln.