Wolfsburg vs Heidenheim Prediction 17 January 2026
🔊 The Bundesliga enters its second half as Wolfsburg host Heidenheim in Matchday 18. In their midweek fixture, Daniel Bauer's side secured their second home win of the season and are now determined to defeat Heidenheim once again, as they did in the first round at the Voith-Arena. Meanwhile, Frank Schmidt's squad suffered a defeat to one of their direct relegation rivals, dropping to the bottom of the standings. Do the Red-Blue-Whites have a chance to snatch points at the Volkswagen Arena?
Head-to-Head
📊 These teams have faced each other only eight times, with the first three encounters taking place in the DFB-Pokal. Notably, in the 2014/15 season, Wolfsburg defeated Heidenheim 4-1 in the second round of the tournament and went on to claim the trophy. In the Bundesliga, the Wolves have triumphed in three out of five meetings, with Heidenheim's sole victory coming in the 27th round of last season (1-0). In the first half of the current season, Wolfsburg secured a convincing away win (3-1) and will now aim to replicate that success on home turf.
Head-to-head statistics Wolfsburg - Heidenheim
Wolfsburg Team Overview
🟢 Wolfsburg managed to bounce back from their humiliating 8-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in Munich by securing three points in their first home game of the new year. In the northern derby against St. Pauli, which concluded the first half of the season, Daniel Bauer's side clinched a 2-1 victory. Christian Eriksen converted a penalty for a handball in the 25th minute, and Jenan Pejcinovic headed home the winner in the dying moments (88th minute). The 20-year-old forward has netted five goals in the last three matches, becoming the first Wolfsburg player to score in three consecutive games since Ridle Baku (now with RB Leipzig), who achieved this feat three years ago.
⚪ In the league standings, Wolfsburg climbed to 11th place, extending their gap from the relegation zone to six points. The victory over St. Pauli marked only their second home win of the current season, and the upcoming match against Heidenheim presents an excellent opportunity to secure a third triumph at the Volkswagen Arena and edge closer to the top half of the table.
Match Results: Wolfsburg
Heidenheim Team Overview
🔴 Midweek, the Red-Blue-Whites traveled to the Mewa Arena to face another league struggler, Mainz (1-2). The match was crucial for both sides, yet Heidenheim failed to secure any points. After conceding two goals, Stefan Schimmer reduced the deficit, and Frank Schmidt's side had a genuine chance to equalize in the final half-hour. Arijon Ibrahimovic's strike hit the crossbar but never crossed the goal line.
🔵 After 17 rounds, Heidenheim sit at the bottom of the table and are winless in their last four matches. The defeat in Mainz marked their 11th loss of the season-more than any other Bundesliga club. Furthermore, Heidenheim remain the only team in the league yet to keep a clean sheet.
Match Results: Heidenheim
Latest news
Wolfsburg
🎙 Daniel Bauer after the match against St. Pauli: "Every Bundesliga victory brings satisfaction, especially after suffering an 8-1 defeat just three days earlier. It's great to secure our first home win after a string of disappointing results. This could give us an extra boost of confidence. We can't afford to relax and are aiming for another win on Saturday."
📝 This week, Wolfsburg extended the contract of academy graduate Farrell Hensel. The 18-year-old midfielder, who made his Bundesliga debut just a few weeks ago, signed his first professional contract until June 30, 2029. A native of Wolfsburg, he has been with the club since the age of 10 and progressed through all levels of the youth system. Hensel made his German league debut on November 30, 2025, in an away match against Eintracht.
❌ Still sidelined are Joakim Maehle, Bence Dárdai, Rogerio, and Jonas Wind. The participation of Jensen Selt and backup goalkeeper Marius Müller remains uncertain.
Heidenheim
🎙 Frank Schmidt on the upcoming match against Wolfsburg: "Looking at Wolfsburg's recent performances, you can see just how high their individual and team quality is. Given their potential, they clearly don't belong in the relegation battle. We lost the first encounter 3-1, so now we must aim to improve on that result."
📝 The club also announced two winter signings. Forward Christian Conte has joined from Eintracht Braunschweig and has signed a contract until June 30, 2029. Additionally, Heidenheim have secured the services of 23-year-old right-back Leonidas Stergiou on loan until the end of the season. Stergiou is a player for Stuttgart and the Swiss national team.
❌ Still sidelined are Hennes Behrens, Leart Paqarada, Budu Zivzivadze, Frank Feller, and Adam Kolle.
🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards
The match will be officiated by Tobias Welz, who averages five yellow cards per game. Wolfsburg's average is 1.7 yellow cards, while Heidenheim's is 1.6. Given the referee's strictness, a bet on over 3.5 yellow cards seems reasonable, as this has occurred in the last three head-to-head encounters between these teams.
⚽ Goal Prediction
Heidenheim concede in every match, making a Wolfsburg goal almost inevitable. The "Wolves" have scored in ten consecutive games. An additional option is to consider Heidenheim's individual total under 1.5 goals-this market has hit in seven of the last eight away games for the "red-blue-whites" in the league.
🚩 Corner Prediction
Wolfsburg rank last in the league for average corners, with 3.6 per game, while Heidenheim sit tenth with 4.7. Despite the home advantage, the choice leans towards Wolfsburg's individual total under 5.5 corners-a bet that has won in five consecutive Bundesliga meetings between these teams.
Editorial Prediction
Wolfsburg are rightly seen as favorites for this encounter, just as they were in the first leg of the season. The team is steadily improving their home performances, with players gradually returning from injuries to bolster the squad.
Heidenheim are finding it incredibly tough to secure points, especially on the road where they've managed just three out of a possible 24 points, thanks to a comeback win in Berlin against Union (2-1). They've suffered defeats in their other seven away matches and have conceded 38 goals in 17 rounds, the worst record in the league.
The main prediction is Wolfsburg's individual total over 1.5 goals. However, the Wolves' defense is far from perfect, having conceded in ten consecutive matches, making a 2-1 victory for the hosts the most likely outcome.
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Betting Tips: Wolfsburg - Heidenheim
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in 16 of last 18 home games.in 15 of last 17 home games (Bundesliga).in 7 of last 8 games against Heidenheim.in 7 of last 8 away games (Bundesliga).
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