1. FC Heidenheim suffered a disappointing 1:3 defeat to Basaksehir Istanbul in the Conference League, marking their second loss in the competition. Key moments included early goals from Deniz Türüc and Miguel Crespo, with Mathias Honsak scoring for Heidenheim before Krzysztof Piatek secured the win for Basaksehir. Coach Frank Schmidt criticized his team’s lack of heart and passion, as he made significant lineup changes following their recent Bundesliga match. Heidenheim will next face VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga.
Heidenheim’s Tough Conference League Loss to Basaksehir
In a disappointing display, 1. FC Heidenheim faced their second defeat in the Conference League, falling to Basaksehir Istanbul with a scoreline of 1:3. The match, held on Thursday, December 12, 2024, marked one of the team’s poorest performances in the competition, particularly evident during a lackluster first half.
Coach Frank Schmidt’s squad had previously shown promise in European competitions, winning three out of four matches, with their only loss coming against Chelsea. However, in Istanbul, the Bundesliga side quickly found themselves in a difficult position, conceding two early goals—first from Deniz Türüc in the 6th minute and then Miguel Crespo in the 18th minute. Although Mathias Honsak managed to narrow the gap with a goal in the 61st minute, Krzysztof Piatek sealed the game with a third goal for Basaksehir shortly before the final whistle.
Coach Schmidt’s Post-Match Reflections
After the match, a visibly frustrated Schmidt expressed his disappointment, stating, “We were outplayed from the first to the last second. We simply didn’t have the heart to win the game.” He emphasized the need for more passion and emotion on the pitch, which was lacking throughout the encounter.
As has been a recurring theme this season, Schmidt made significant changes to the lineup following a Bundesliga match. Notably, regulars Kevin Müller and Patrick Mainka did not make the trip to Turkey, and five players were swapped out from the squad that suffered a 2:4 defeat against Bayern Munich. Only a handful of players, including Tim Siersleben and Paul Wanner, retained their starting positions, while Vitus Eicher took over in goal.
Despite an ambitious start, where Leo Scienza recorded the first shot on goal within the opening minutes, Heidenheim quickly found themselves on the back foot. The early goals from Basaksehir shattered their confidence, and despite a spirited effort after halftime, which included Honsak’s goal, the team struggled to maintain momentum. A collision resulting in Maloney’s substitution compounded their difficulties, and Piatek’s second goal ultimately confirmed Heidenheim’s defeat.
Looking ahead, 1. FC Heidenheim will face VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 15:30, before returning to the Conference League for a home game against FC St. Gallen on December 19.