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Heidenheim Lock Horns with Chelsea and Başakşehir FK in Europa League Debut:
Get ready for a thrilling ride as newly-promoted Bundesliga side FC Heidenheim takes on billionaire-backed powerhouse FC Chelsea in the Europa League! This epic match is just one part of Heidenheim's grueling group stage that includes Turkish-linked Başakşehir FK, Slovenian outfit Olimpija Ljubljana, Swiss team FC St. Gallen, Scottish club Hearts of Midlothian, and FC Paphos from Cyprus.
After a pulsating 3-2 victory over BK Häcken in the qualifying playoffs, Heidenheim is ready to make some waves in the lucrative European competition. Next up, our boys host Chelsea at the Ostalb region, followed by encounters with Olimpija Ljubljana and FC St. Gallen in their own backyard, and journeys to Turkey to face Başakşehir and Scotland's Hearts of Midlothian, along with a trip to Cyprus for their match against FC Paphos.
Starting October 3 and running until December 19, the Conference League group stage schedule is yet to be announced. Learn to dance on the edge of your seat as we watch Heidenheim navigate these tricky waters!
Whatever Happens, It's Going Down in Wrocław:
The 2024/25 season brings significant changes to both the Champions League and Europa League competitions, with 'ligaphase' replacing the group stages. In the Europa League, 36 teams go head-to-head with eight opponents, playing four home and away games each, before being ranked in a table with the top eight proceeding directly to the round of 16. With competitors ranked from ninth to 16th battling against teams ranked 17th to 24th in the playoffs, only 25th or lower positions will see the end of a team's journey.
Excitingly, the Europa League final will take place on May 21 in Bilbao, with the Conference League final scheduled for May 28 in Wrocław. Mark your calendars, folks; this is going to be wild!
Duel with the Demons: Heidenheim's Europa League Journey:
With a home match against Chelsea on the horizon, Heidenheim faces fierce competition from not just the English giants, but also the mysterious Başakşehir FK, Olimpija Ljubljana, and FC St. Gallen. As former Champions League winners, Chelsea is no doubt a formidable opponent.
However, the incredible story of FC Heidenheim's journey does not end here. With every aspiring footballer dreaming of making their mark in Europe, FC Heidenheim is ready to prove that even the underdogs can shine when given the chance.
Did you know? - FC Heidenheim lost to FC Copenhagen 1-3 on February 20, 2025, at the Voith-Arena[1][5].
- Despite a valiant effort, Heidenheim suffered a defeat against Istanbul Başakşehir FK, although ÖFB-Legionär Matthias Honsak scored a goal for his team[3].
- Although the date is yet to be announced, we eagerly await the face-off between Heidenheim and Chelsea in the Conference League. Given Chelsea's dominant performance in the league phase, scoring 26 goals while only conceding five[2], they'll certainly be a tough nut to crack for Heidenheim. However, independent of the outcome, we're confident that Heidenheim will put up a fierce fight and continue to make history in the Europa League.
On the Horizon: - - - -
