Just three years ago, Leonardo Scienza was playing for FC Schalke 04’s second team. Now he is competing in a category with some of the best players in Europe.Leonardo Scienza has done it again. In the 29th minute of the Bundesliga opener against VfL Wolfsburg, the 1. FC Heidenheim striker curled the ball into the net from a free kick. Even though it was only enough for a 1-3 defeat, the former FC Schalke 04 talent has set a record.
Because in 2025, there will be only one player in Europe’s top leagues who has scored three times directly from a free kick: Leonardo Scienza. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will no longer be around. This makes Scienza the new finest foot in Europe.
Otherwise, however, Heidenheim did not have much to smile about. Coach Frank Schmidt was surprisingly harsh in his criticism of the team after their botched start to the Bundesliga season. The 51-year-old coach said that the team needed to “turn things around completely and quickly.” He added that he was surprised to have to say this after just the first matchday, but that it was the truth and needed to be said.
The coach said they had wanted to create a “spirit of optimism.” Instead, there was ‘disillusionment’ after Saturday’s game. Schmidt said the defeat was “well deserved.” No player had “come close to their maximum performance.” They had “stood in a row” when the goals were scored. A few bright moments from Leonardo Scienza were not enough. “We can’t play like this in the Bundesliga.”
Last season, when they only secured their place in the league in a relegation play-off against SV Elversberg, Heidenheim experienced many disappointments in their own stadium. With just eleven points, they finished as the weakest home team in the league. Regaining their former home strength is one of the Swabians’ goals for the new season. However, they made too many mistakes against VfL. After the break, they became increasingly harmless in attack and failed to create any noteworthy chances.
Next Saturday, FCH will be away to RB Leipzig. According to Schmidt, they will need significantly more “energy, courage, and conviction” against the Saxons, who lost 6-0 (3-0) to FC Bayern Munich on Friday. with dpa