BVB's hosts' first time in the Bundesliga ever and yet they ended the year with a financial loss?

There is a somewhat paradoxical situation in Germany. The club, which entered the Bundesliga for the first time since its foundation, reported a financial loss in the same year. Heidenheim ended 2023 with a loss of 967,123 euros. They will have the opportunity to earn at least part of that money through ticket sales this Friday from 10.30 PM EAT, when they will host Borussia Dortmund in the 20th round of the Bundesliga.

For the first time this season, some of the strongest and most popular clubs in the country will come to Heidenheim. In the first half of the season, Frank Schmidt's team visited Borussia, Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen, as well as Leipzig and Eintracht. Now, they will meet all those teams on their own field.

No matter who the opponent was, the tiny Voith-Arena was sold out every time. Heidenheim had 15,000 spectators at each game. If they had a bigger stadium, the visit would certainly be better.

The main reason for Heidenheim's minus is, as stated by the club, the obligation to pay bonuses to players for placement in the Bundesliga. Apparently, they were "too good" that the cash register couldn't handle it.

Heidenheim did not sell a single player in the last three transfer periods, so they had no income from that side either. Of course, we don't worry much about the German first-division member. Let's not forget, the money from the television rights is only paid at the end of the year, and that alone will be enough to even out the numbers in the books.

However, because finances were in the red Heidenheim did not bring in any reinforcements this January. Schmidt attacks survival with the same roster.

They are doing well so far, they are 10th in the table with 23 points, even 11 more than Cologne, which are in the relegation zone. However, when we know that during the spring they have a more difficult schedule, in the sense that they will be outsiders more often both away and at home, the question is whether they will manage to add many more points to their balance.

Heidenheim won a point in all three matches this year. He played 1-1 with Cologne, Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim. If we add to that three victories, with which he ended the autumn half-season, we arrive at the fact that they did not lose for two whole months. Since visiting Leipzig (1-2) on December 2.

Now they have a much more difficult job ahead of them, Borussia Dortmund are doing great lately. The Millionaires beat Darmstadt (3-0), Cologne (4-0) and Bochum (3-1).

The first duel between Dortmund and Heidenheim, on September 1, ended without a winner. Borussia led with 2-0 at halftime, but they 'spilled' it all in the second portion of the game.

BUNDESLIGA - MATCHDAY 20

Friday

22:30: (4.00) Heidenheim (4.30) Dortmund (1.78)

Saturday

17:30: (9.00) Darmstadt (5.80) Leverkusen (1.30)

17:30: (2.30) Bochum (3.50) Augsburg (3.25)

17:30: (1.20) Bayern (8.00) M' gladbach (14.0)

17:30: (2.95) Freiburg (3.45) Stuttgart (2.35)

17:30: (2.20) Mainz (3.50) Werder (3.50)

20:30: (3.25) Koln (3.40) Eintr.Frankfurt (2.35)

Sunday

17:30: (2.15) Wolfsburg (3.50) Hoffenheim (3.30)

19:30: (1.42) RB Leipzig (4.60) Union Berlin (7.50)

Wednesday

Postponed match - MATCHDAY 18

20:30: (2.10) Mainz (3.45) Union Berlin (3.90)

***odds are subject to change***