The 1. FC Augsburg has held the 1. FC Heidenheim in the relegation battle. The Heidenheimers have not won in nine games. The team, led by coach Frank Schmidt, is waiting for a win. The statistics suggest that the 1. FC Heidenheim is already relegated to the 2. Bundesliga. However, Schmidt and his players still believe in the possibility of staying in the German elite class, even after the frustrating 0:1 (0:0) defeat against FC Augsburg. "It's not the first time we're facing a wall, with a relatively large gap and a lack of success experiences," said Schmidt after the 15th season defeat on the 22nd matchday. ## The statistics speak against the 1. FC Heidenheim Never has a Bundesliga team since the introduction of the three-point rule with only 13 points at this point in time still held the class. "After 22 games, such a table is already conclusive," said captain Patrick Mainka after the game at DAZN. "We are not consistent at both penalty areas. These statistics currently speak against us and naturally make little hope for outsiders," said the team's defense chief further. The team's weakness in scoring goals is particularly problematic for the Heidenheimers in their third Bundesliga year. ## "Everyone believes in it" "We don't look at the points so much because we know that we are close in every game, regardless of who we play. As soon as we win a game, I believe in us to have a chance," said defender Hennes Behrens: "Everyone still believes in it. That's why we remain optimistic. With a win, we're back in the game." Behrens has mathematically correct. With a win on the next Sunday (22.02.2026, 19:30 Uhr) against VfB Stuttgart, the Heidenheimers could reduce the six-point gap to the relegation place. However, despite their efforts, against Augsburg, the team's offense was once again seen to be extremely ineffective. ## Heidenheim's ineffective offense "In the end, the knot is somehow so tightly tied that we can't untie it," said Schmidt about the team's performance. "We are 18th, but we have not played like an 18th team. If you take the effectiveness, the use of opportunities, then you know why we are at the bottom." While Jan Schöppner (65th minute) and Eren Dinkci (68th minute) missed promising chances, a penalty kick by Alexis Claude-Maurice (80th minute) was enough for Augsburg to secure three important points against a relegation rival. ## It's missing "from everything" Schmidt described the guest performance as "unbearably bitter": "Football is about scoring goals, effectiveness, we leave too much out. The team's performance was, however, stable and self-assured." Despite this, there is still something missing in the team's game to achieve the desired fourth season win. The last three-pointer dates back to December 6th when they beat SC Freiburg 2-1. "We already have a relatively large gap," Schmidt admitted and added: "It won't get any easier, but we still want to use the next game. You shouldn't say it's impossible." Six points behind the relegation place, the worst offense, the worst defense, nine games without a win: Where is the football god? The 1. FC Heidenheim needs him.