First Team

Late Jenz header salvages a point

Wolves come from behind to draw 1-1 with Heidenheim.

VfL Wolfsburg squad of the Wolves 2025/2026 | VfL Wolfsburg had to settle for a 1-1 (0-1) draw against 1. FC Heidenheim at the start of the second half of the season. After falling behind just before the break through a goal by Adrian Beck (45+1), centre-back Moritz Jenz equalised late on with a header (80). The Lower Saxony side dominated large spells of the match but rarely managed to turn that control into clear-cut chances. The pressure increased noticeably in the closing stages, but the longed-for winner failed to arrive. The fixture list Bundesliga fixture list | VfL Wolfsburg takes the Wolves to 1. FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday, 24 January, with kick-off at 3:30 pm.

Personnel

Compared to the 2-1 home win over St. Pauli on Wednesday evening Late breakthrough | VfL Wolfsburg, there were two changes to Wolfsburg’s starting XI: Mohammed Amoura led the line in place of the injured Dzenan Pejcinovic. In addition, Jan Bürger made his first Bundesliga start, replacing Sael Kumbedi, who initially took a seat on the bench. Heidenheim also made three changes following their 2-1 defeat to Mainz, with Mathias Honsak, Adrian Beck and Marnon Busch coming into the starting line-up.

Match action

The opening phase was evenly balanced as both teams cautiously felt their way into the game. The first real danger came after almost 20 minutes: Lovro Majer hit the side netting, while at the other end Marnon Busch went agonisingly close with a long-range effort from 25 metres (23). The hosts then grew into the contest and created early openings through Yannick Gerhardt and Amoura. Heidenheim, however, remained alert on the counter and capitalised on an individual Wolfsburg error shortly before half-time: via Arijon Ibrahimovic and Marvin Pieringer, the ball fell to Beck, who converted the rebound to make it 0-1 at the break (45+1).

Jenz with the header

After the restart, VfL increased the pressure. The hosts enjoyed more possession, but Heidenheim defended with great commitment. The best chance to level the score came ten minutes into the second half when Christian Eriksen got on the end of a pass from Wimmer on the left side of the box. His deflected low shot towards the far corner was brilliantly pushed away one-handed by Ramaj (55). The long-awaited equaliser eventually arrived from a corner: Eriksen delivered a pinpoint cross for Jenz, who rose at the near post and powered his header home for 1-1 (80). In the remaining minutes, the hosts even pushed for a winner, but both Adam Daghim and Kumbedi missed from promising positions. In the end, the match finished in a draw that reflected the balance of play.

Goals

  • 0-1 Adrian Beck (45+1): The goal had been coming. Pieringer has too much space on the right and plays a low ball into the box. Schöppner’s shot is initially blocked, but the rebound falls to Adrian Beck, who slots the ball into the bottom right corner to give FCH the lead.

     

  • 1-1 Moritz Jenz (80): Wolfsburg repeatedly deliver high balls into the penalty area in the second half – and are rewarded. Eriksen’s corner finds Jenz, who wins the aerial duel and thunders the ball into the top right corner.

Line-ups and statistics

VfL Wolfsburg: Grabara – Bürger (59 Kumbedi), Jenz, Koulierakis, Zehnter (46 Paredes) – Gerhardt (70 Lindström), Arnold, Eriksen, Majer (59 Daghim), Wimmer – Amoura,

Subs: Pervan (GK), Fischer, Vavro, Hensel, Souza

1. FC Heidenheim: Ramaj – Busch, Mainka, Gimber, Föhrenbach (77 Stergiou) – Schöppner, Dorsch (86 Kerber), Beck (77 Schimmer), Ibrahimovic – Honsak (90 Traore), Pieringer (86 Kaufmann)

Subs: Feller (GK), Siersleben, Niehues, Wagner

Goals: 1-0 Beck (45+1), 1-1 Jenz (80)

Yellow cards: Arnold, Eriksen, Paredes, Lindström / Busch, Dorsch, Föhrenbach

Referee: Tobias Welz