After three wins in a row, Dortmund could only manage a 0-0 draw against the newly promoted team. The reigning champions left a lot to be desired.

Once again, murmurs could be heard in the away section, where Borussia Dortmund’s fans had gathered. BVB striker Niclas Füllkrug pulled out from 16 meters with the full span, Heidenheim’s goalkeeper Kevin Müller lifted off and scraped the ball out of the angle.

Five minutes before the final whistle, the scene played out that was a much too late impulse for BVB to kick off the 20th Bundesliga match day. After three wins at the beginning of the year, BVB could not get past a 0-0 draw at the newly promoted team on Friday evening. A first setback in the attempt to save themselves in the Champions League after a messed up first half of the season.

In addition to the long-term injured Karim Adeyemi, Julian Ryerson, Felix Nmecha and Africa Cup participants Sebastien Haller, coach Edin Terzic had to do without an important quartet. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and the Bieden midfielders Julian Brandt and Marco Reus had to cancel due to illness. Returnee Jadon Sancho complained of muscle problems.

Compared to the 3-1 win against VfL Bochum, Terzic had to make one change. For Sancho, his compatriot Jamie Bynoe-Gittens moved into the starting lineup. In addition, the 41-year-old again relied on a double tip, which Füllkrug and Youssoufa Moukoko formed.

The quick-witted passes of Julian Brandt and the surprising dribbling skills of Jadon Sancho – these special individual abilities would have done the Dortmund team good in Heidenheim. From the first minute, it was a tough game from BVB’s point of view, in which even the compact Heidenheim team was able to make a mark, helped of course by Salih Özcan’s mistake.

BVB lacks structure against Heidenheim

The midfielder actually wanted to pass to captain Niklas Süle, a routine task. But the ball landed exactly with Tim Kleindienst. Heidenheim’s attacker shot from 14 meters out towards the empty net, with Meyer having moved to the side. But the ball flew just wide of the left post (14′). And the second big opportunity also went to the hosts in front of 15,000 spectators in the sold-out Voith Arena. Again it was Kleindienst, this time with his head.

Dortmund had little to counter this. While in the three previous appearances in 2024, the team often lacked precision in the final third of the game, on Friday the runners-up didn’t even get that far into the opposing half. There was a lack of structure, it was mostly hoping for individual actions. But runs like Bynoe-Gittens’ fizzled out.

BVB: Malen goal is retracted

They only managed one attack. When Thomas Meunier won the ball back after making a mistake, Niklas Süle made an opening pass and the ball reached Donyell Malen via Marcel Sabitzer and Moukoko. The Dutchman had started on the run, curving around goalkeeper Kevin Müller and sliding the ball into an acute angle (26′ ). Great celebration.

But referee Bastian Dankert (Rostock) had something against it, much more: video assistant Felix Brych, who had observed Malen standing offside. Dankert took back the supposed opening goal. The goal did not bring Dortmund a new sense of self-confidence, let alone dominance.

Even after the break, Dortmund tried to pick up the pace, but it didn’t translate onto the pitch. A bicycle kick from Bynoe-Gittnes after a cross from Thomas Meunier (56′) was the only noteworthy shot for a long time because Heidenheim managed to maintain their defensive stability and structure.

BVB still lacking momentum after the break against Heidenheim

Terzic reacted. Marius Wolf, Emre Can and debutant Ole Pohlmann from the U23 came on for the weak Meunier, Özcan and the hasty Bynoe-Gittens. In the second half, Heidenheim was once again dangerous on the counterattack, but the promoted team did not play out their chances consistently. Heidenheim’s Stefan Schimmer even came close to scoring the winning goal after Füllkrug’s shot (90.+1).

Meanwhile, there was no sign of a plan in BVB’s offense as to how Dortmund intended to overcome Heidenheim’s defense. The first setback of the new year was sealed.