Heidenheim FC currently holds the leading position in the Bundesliga.
Heidenheim had an extraordinary week, beginning with securing a spot in the Conference League, followed by a draw against Chelsea, and topping it off with a league lead after defeating Augsburg. Midfielder Paul Wanner, a shining gem, played a pivotal role in this victory, which turned out to be their highest-ever Bundesliga win.
Led by new signees Paul Wanner, on loan from Bayern Munich, and Léo Scienza, 1. FC Heidenheim dominated Augsburg, clinching a 4-0 (2-0) victory in the Bundesliga. This marked their fifth consecutive win in league play this season, setting a new record for the club.
Wanner converted a penalty kick in the 9th minute, while Scienza, a transfer from SSV Ulm, scored a powerful strike in front of 15,000 fans (30'). Adrian Beck (69') and Maximilian Breunig (73') further escalated their advantage, causing euphoria on the Ostalb. Heidenheim, now at the top of the league, advanced to the next round in the DFB-Pokal and qualified for the Conference League group stage. Augsburg, meanwhile, took a hit after drawing 2-2 with Werder Bremen in their initial match.
Wanner scores a cool penalty
Augsburg's Keven Schlotterbeck fouled the ball with his left arm in the penalty area, prompting referee Martin Petersen to award a penalty after a VAR review. Wanner stepped up and confidently kicked the ball into the bottom right corner.
This was Wanner's fourth competitive goal of the season, marking another achievement. The previous week, he had become the youngest Bundesliga goalscorer in the club's history. Now, he also held the title of the youngest player ever to score a penalty in the German top-flight. The first half was thrilling, with Augsburg having the majority of possession and opportunities to tie the score. Schlotterbeck's best attempt struck the bar (27').
Then, Heidenheim struck again. Marvin Pieringer headed the ball to Scienza, who blasted it into the net. The gifted technician had previously scored this season, in the Conference League playoff first leg against BK Häcken.
Beck signs a new contract - and scores
Post-interval, Wanner and Scienza continued to shine in Heidenheim's midfield, but missed an opportunity for a counterattack (56'). Augsburg's substitutions, including former Dortmund player Marius Wolf and Swiss international Ruben Vargas, failed to alter the game's momentum. Instead, Beck, who had extended his contract in Heidenheim until 2028, scored the third. Wanner, as expected, provided the assist. Breunig then added the fourth shortly after. The only downside for the relentless Heidenheim was that tenacious midfielder Lennard Maloney had to be subbed off due to back pain just before halftime.
After securing a 4-0 victory against Augsburg, Heidenheim now leads the football league, extending their winning streak to six games. Wanner's penalty kick in the first half and Beck's goal post-interval contributed significantly to this league-topping performance in the Bundesliga.
