1. FC Heidenheim remains on course for the Bundesliga in the decisive phase of the season.

Coach Frank Schmidt’s team won 2-0 (1-0) at SpVgg Greuther Fürth on Friday night and will also finish the 30th matchday of the 2nd division in a direct promotion spot.

As second in the standings, Heidenheim is just one point behind leaders Darmstadt 98 (61 points), four points ahead of Hamburger SV (56), who are in third place for relegation. Behind them, SC Paderborn maintained its minimal chance in the promotion race: Against Eintracht Braunschweig, they won 5:1 (2:0), and Paderborn is now six points behind HSV. The next matchday will be a direct duel.

For Braunschweig, it was a setback in the relegation battle. With 32 points, Eintracht is in 14th place, and its direct rivals in the fight to stay in the relegation zone could close Braunschweig’s gap to one point this weekend.

At Fürth, league top striker Tim Kleindienst (7th) and Jan-Niklas Beste (51st) took advantage of serious defensive errors by their opponents for Heidenheim. Fürth, still in the midfield of the table, started off well, but after a few minutes things got curious: Damian Michalski hit the post of his own goal during a clearing attempt, Kleindienst dusted off for his 23rd goal of the season. Before Heidenheim’s second goal by Beste, Fürth goalkeeper Andreas Linde lost the ball without much need.

In Paderborn, Julian Justvan (26th), Raphael Obermair (45.+1), Sirlord Conteh (51st) and Dennis Srbeny scored for the hosts with a brace (90./90.+4). Anthony Ujah (53rd) cut the deficit for Braunschweig in the meantime.