Preview | SV Elversberg vs FC Heidenheim: The tale of two underdogs | OneFootball

SV Elversberg will be seeking to make history on Monday night as they bid not only to become a Bundesliga side for the first time, but also the smallest town/village to ever play in the German top flight.

After a thrilling 2-2 draw last week in Heidenheim, it’s all to play for in the Saarland.

Battle of the Underdogs

FC Heidenheim

Both of these clubs can stake the claim of being overachievers and the ultimate underdogs. Before reaching the Bundesliga for the first team a couple of years ago, Heidenheim had spent most of its existence in the lower leagues of the German football pyramid. Under former player turned head coach, Frank Schmidt, he guided the club from non-league to the Bundesliga and then the Conference League.

Having succumbed to what’s known as “second-season syndrome”, FCH have struggled domestically and now face a do-or-die situation in Elversberg.

SV Elversberg

Bar a one-season stint in the 3. Liga, Elversberg had spent all their time in the 4th division since the turn of the century.

That was until the 2021/22 season when they earned promotion into the 3. Liga once again and then went back-to-back by winning the third division at the first time of asking.

Elversberg finished 11th in their first-ever 2. Bundesliga campaign before earning themselves a play-off place this season. The rise has been so rapid and beyond anyone’s dreams that it’s a surprise that the club’s facilities have managed to keep up.

To give you an idea of just how small Elversberg is, it doesn’t even have a train station. To get to the stadium, you have to take a train to Neunkirchen and then a 39-minute bus ride.

The idea of such a location potentially hosting Bayern Munich and the likes next season is what makes this game so beautiful.

State of Play

After a 2-2 draw in Heidenheim (a game Elversberg were leading 0-2), it’s all square going into the second leg. As away goals don’t count in the relegation/promotion play-off, the game is basically a one-off, winner-takes-all scenario.

Elversberg will be disappointed not to take back some sort of advantage from the first leg, but they know they can cause the Bundesliga side problems. With home advantage, they’ll feel they have a serious possibility of getting the job done.

Heidenheim will be hoping to take the momentum for the second half into Monday’s game. Away from home is always trickier. If they start slow again, it could be the end of their time in the top flight.

GGFN | Jamie Allen