Heidenheim continued their flawless run in the Conference League, edging past Hearts in an intense atmosphere at Tynecastle and putting an end to the Edinburgh side’s unbeaten streak in the competition.

Despite their struggles in the Scottish Premiership, where they sit second from bottom, Hearts dominated the first half against their German visitors but were unable to break the deadlock.

It took nearly an hour of sustained pressure from Hearts before Heidenheim found the breakthrough. Sirlord Conteh opened the scoring for Frank Schmidt’s side, guiding a header past Craig Gordon after a swift counterattack.

Hearts’ push for an equaliser lacked sharpness, and in a near-identical play, Jan Schoppner extended Heidenheim’s lead, silencing the fervent home crowd.

Before the goals, Hearts showed resilience and flashes of quality. Craig Gordon’s weak punch nearly allowed Lennard Maloney to score, but Malachi Boateng’s quick intervention cleared the ball off the line, preserving Gordon’s clean sheet on his 300th club appearance—at least for the first half.

It was an almost perfect opening half for Hearts, marked by energy, bravery, and some clever play. The only missing piece was the goal. Lawrence Shankland, who’s only found the net once this season, came close on a few occasions, while Blair Spittal and James Penrice missed shots from promising positions.

Ultimately, Hearts walked away empty-handed for the first time in the tournament, while Heidenheim’s fairytale season continues to unfold, with this victory in Edinburgh as another impressive chapter.

Missed Opportunities for Hearts

European fixtures have offered some relief to Hearts amid a disappointing domestic start that sees them struggling at the bottom of the Premiership table. They stayed true to that trend with a high-energy first half, where they stretched Heidenheim across the field.

Penrice and Yan Dhanda were particularly effective down the left, repeatedly driving down to the byline and pulling Heidenheim out of shape. Critchley’s team kept up a high line and piled on the attacks, yet lacked the clinical touch when it mattered most.

This has become a recurring theme for Shankland, who seems weighed down by expectations. Last season, he seemed to turn every chance into a goal; now, he’s struggling to hit the target. If Shankland isn’t scoring, Hearts are left looking for answers up front.

Heidenheim’s Remarkable Journey Hits New Heights

When Hearts first drew Heidenheim, few fans in Gorgie knew much about the Bundesliga newcomers. But as matchday approached, talk of their rise from the second tier to the Bundesliga last season began to make waves among Hearts supporters.

Known for defying odds rather than bowing to high expectations, Heidenheim appeared somewhat unsettled by the Tynecastle crowd and the fast pace Hearts set in the first half. However, they held their ground, regrouped at the break, and emerged with renewed composure and precision.

The German side’s second-half performance showcased a calm ruthlessness that Hearts could only aspire to replicate. Both goals reflected the kind of efficiency and speed that has defined Heidenheim’s unexpected rise.

From relative obscurity, Heidenheim has now caught the attention of the Scottish football community as they sit comfortably on track for the Conference League play-offs.