In a clash between the Bundesliga's bottom two, Heidenheim will host Holstein Kiel at Voith-Arena on Sunday.
Heidenheim are last in 18th place with 16 points following their 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim on March 9, whereas 17th-placed Holstein Kiel held Stuttgart to a 2-2 stalemate on March 8 and have 17 points.
Match preview
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The hosts were arguably unfortunate to not take all three points against Hoffenheim given they created four big chances and faced just over 0.5 xG.
Heidenheim have only scored 28 goals in the Bundesliga – the joint fourth-worst record in the division – and they have only found the back of the net three times in their last five league outings, failing to score on three occasions.
A defeat on the weekend could be catastrophic for the boss Frank Schmidt's side considering they are already four points from 16th-placed VfL Bochum, who occupy the relegation playoff spot.
Heidenheim are winless in their past nine Bundesliga outings – losing six – and have in fact been beaten in 15 of their last 20 in the top flight.
Frank's team have been defeated in each of their five most recent games at home whilst winning one, drawing two and losing five of their prior eight at Voith-Arena.
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As for the visitors, they will be disappointed that they failed to win last time out considering they were leading 2-1 when Stuttgart were reduced to 10 men in the 53rd minute, but their opponents equalised moments later.
Holstein Kiel have enjoyed more success in the final third in recent weeks having found the back of the net 23 times in their last 11, whereas they had only scored 17 in their first 16 fixtures of the season.
The Storks managed to beat Sunday's hosts 1-0 on November 2 in the league, and to their credit the victors did create four big chances compared to Heidenheim's two.
Head coach Marcel Rapp has overseen one draw and one win in his last two – losing four and drawing two of his prior six – but it is also the first time this season that his side have managed to avoid defeat in back-to-back games.
Holstein Kiel's form on the road is troubling considering they have only triumphed in one of 12 Bundesliga matches away from home, succumbing to defeat on eight occasions.
Team News
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The hosts will be unable to call upon midfielder Julian Niehues until late March, while Jan Schoppner is a doubt, and their absences may lead to Schmidt starting Niklas Dorsch and Luca Kerber in the middle of the pitch.
Goalkeeper Kevin Muller will likely be shielded by a back three featuring centre-backs Patrick Mainka, Benedikt Gimber and Tim Siersleben.
Striker Marvin Pieringer is almost certain to play for Heidenheim on Sunday given Stefan Schimmer is a doubt.
Meanwhile, Holstein Kiel will be without defenders Patrick Erras, Ivan Nekic and Max Geschwill, so expect Timo Becker, David Zec and Marco Komenda to feature in the backline.
Midfielder Andu Yobel Kelati will not be in the matchday squad, and that makes Magnus Knudsen, Nicolai Remberg and Armin Gigovic likely candidates to appear together on the weekend.
Steven Skrzybski and Shuto Machino have regularly started in the forward line, and they could so again against Heidenheim.
Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Mainka, Gimber, Siersleben; Traore, Dorsch, Kerber, Fohrenbach; Beck, Honsak; Pieringer
Holstein Kiel possible starting lineup:
Weiner; Becker, Zec, Komenda; Rosenboom, Knudsen, Remberg, Gigovic, Porath; Skrzybski, Machino
We say: Heidenheim 1-1 Holstein Kiel
Neither side can afford to lose at this stage of the season, but it is difficult to separate the two clubs.
Heidenheim have frequently lost in the past months, while Holstein Kiel's record on the road is poor, so perhaps fans will witness the teams play out a tense stalemate.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
