By Oliver Trust

BERLIN, April 4 (Xinhua) -- The contrast couldn't be starker as reigning German champions Bayer Leverkusen face Heidenheim in a Bundesliga showdown this Saturday.

Reeling from a shock German Cup exit, Leverkusen, led by Spanish star coach Xabi Alonso, faces its last real chance to salvage a season that once promised so much. The loss marked a low point in Alonso's tenure, which began with high hopes in October 2022 and saw historic highs including an unbeaten Bundesliga campaign and the 2024 Cup triumph.

But the weight of expectation is taking its toll. Cracks have emerged in what was once a seamless story of success.

"We have to learn from these setbacks, pay the price, and return to greediness," Leverkusen CEO Simon Rolfes said.

Saturday's match pits football's glamor against its gritty opposite. Leverkusen, valued at €644.5 million according to Transfermarkt, will meet a Heidenheim side worth just €66.78 million.

Yet that gap says little about spirit. Coach Frank Schmidt, 51, is a club icon who recently marked his 700th match in charge. Since taking over in 2007, he's guided Heidenheim from Germany's fourth division all the way to the top flight.

The town of 50,000, tucked behind rolling hills, has grown into a quiet economic and sporting success story. Its license plate, "HDH," is playfully reinterpreted by locals as *Hinter den Hügeln*-"behind the hills." The nickname fits a club built on community and underdog ambition.

Despite reaching the Bundesliga in 2023, Heidenheim still feels like a family-run outfit. Fans often see Schmidt walking his dog through town-a reminder of the values he represents. Now in their second season in the top flight, the team is once again battling to avoid relegation.

Meanwhile, Leverkusen finds itself at a crossroad.

"It's our challenge to get this season to a satisfying finish," Rolfes said. Hopes of overtaking Bayern Munich remain alive, and the team clings to a mantra: "Be ready when the Bavarians show weakness."

But they'll need to be ready for Heidenheim, too. In their cozy home stadium, the underdogs have rattled Bundesliga giants-Stuttgart, Bayern, and Dortmund have all left bruised.

This weekend, another favorite could be added to that list. Enditem

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