FC Heidenheim - Energie Cottbus

Forward Mikkel Kaufmann remains the focal point for FC Heidenheim as they prepare to host Energie Cottbus at Voith-Arena on 24 October 2026 for matchday 9. After a challenging 3-1 defeat to Wolfsburg, the home side will look to rediscover the defensive stability that secured a clean sheet against Kaiserslautern earlier this month. With Christian Conteh and Paul Hennrich expected to flank Kaufmann in attack, Heidenheim aim to leverage their home advantage to regain momentum in the 2. Bundesliga standings.

Energie Cottbus arrive seeking a result following a run of tight contests, including a 1-1 draw with Nuernberg. While the visitors have shown attacking intent in recent weeks, they must navigate this fixture without the injured Axel Borgmann. With Marcel Lotka expected to start in goal behind a defensive unit led by King Manu, Cottbus will look to stifle the hosts and exploit any gaps in transition to improve their position in the table.