Ten Men, No Mercy: Dortmund Dismantles Heidenheim in Relegation Dogfight

Average Futmetrix Score: 48/100. An early red card for Budu Zivzivadze exposes Heidenheim's fragility in a match that crystallises the brutal stakes of the relegation battle.

Catastrophe strikes early

Minute 21. Zivzivadze is dismissed for a foul, leaving Heidenheim in an impossible position. From that moment, the outcome was ordained. Defending with ten players against Dortmund's suffocating intensity proved futile. The Voith-Arena became a stage for unrelenting Black and Yellow dominance—a masterclass in exploiting numerical advantage.

Guirassy and Beier deliver the knockout blows

Serhou Guirassy capitalised on the man advantage in the 33rd minute, expertly set up by Jadon Ryerson. Before half-time, Maximilian Beier sealed it with a second, courtesy of Karim Adeyemi's assist. Dortmund's 75% possession and 17 shots painted a picture of complete control; Heidenheim's meagre six attempts and 0.40 xG exposed the true balance—or rather, the total absence of it.

Ramaj fights a losing battle

Diant Ramaj was Heidenheim's lone bright spot, making six crucial saves to prevent an even more humiliating scoreline. His 9.3 rating stands as a monument to his defiance in a hopeless cause. Ramy Bensebaini and Waldemar Anton formed an impenetrable Dortmund rearguard, suffocating every Heidenheim attack at source.

Heidenheim's plight deepens: three games, three defeats, one goal scored. Languishing on 18th with zero points, they face an existential crisis. Dortmund, meanwhile, consolidates second place with 7 points from 3 matches—a statement of intent.