SC Freiburg beat 1. FC Heidenheim 2:1 at home on the 30th matchday of the Bundesliga and climbed to seventh place, keeping their push for European qualification alive with a late finish that matched the rhythm of their season: compact, urgent and just sharp enough at the key moments.
Johan Manzambi opened the scoring in the 24th minute, his fifth goal of the Bundesliga season, before Budu Zivzivadze brought Heidenheim level in the 59th minute. Maximilian Eggestein settled it in the 83rd minute, turning a tight Baden-Württemberg duel into three points for Freiburg and a result Heidenheim could not afford. The match was played at Freiburg’s home stadium, where the hosts needed the win after their 3:1 Europa League quarterfinal victory at Celta Vigo earlier in the week.
Julian Schuster responded to that midweek effort by changing Freiburg’s starting eleven in five positions, and only Matthias Ginter remained in the back line from the Celta Vigo game. For Heidenheim, Frank Schmidt had to do without Eren Dinkci because of an Achilles tendon problem, another setback for a side already deep in the Bundesliga relegation battle.
Freiburg’s lead did not last because of a simple defensive lapse. Heidenheim’s equalizer came after a Freiburg build-up error, the sort of mistake that can turn control into doubt in one pass. But Freiburg found the answer late, and Eggestein’s winner in the 83rd minute gave the home side a result that felt bigger than the scoreline suggested.
The late goal also carried a statistical note. It was the 151st Jokertor of the season, matching the historical best set in 2022/23. For Freiburg, that kind of depth matters as the league run-in tightens. They are now seventh in the table and back on course for a place in the European race, with a trip to Borussia Dortmund scheduled for 26.04. at 17:30 ET. Heidenheim, meanwhile, stayed seven points behind the relegation playoff place with four matchdays left, a gap that leaves little room for error.
