Heidenheim will hope to make it three victories in a row when they host Champions League-regulars RB Leipzig on Sunday at Voith-Arena in their sixth Bundesliga fixture.
The hosts are sixth in the table with nine points and beat Mainz 05 2-0 on September 28 in their most recent league game, while the visitors are in third place with 11 points and beat Augsburg 4-0 last Saturday.
Match preview
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After suffering back-to-back defeats against Borussia Dortmund on September 13 and Freiburg on September 21, Heidenheim beat Mainz in the league and Olimpija 2-1 in the Conference League on Thursday.
Die Schanzer had 67% possession during their victory against Olimpija but created little from open play, and they only won when Paul Wanner converted from close range in the 83rd minute after his penalty had been saved but rebounded toward the attacker.
Heidenheim's appearance in the Conference League's league phase represents the first time the club have ever played in the initial stage of any UEFA competition.
Manager Frank Schmidt will also be pleased that his team were able to beat Mainz and limit them to under 0.1 xG from open play and zero big chances.
Of the 18 teams in the top flight, Schmidt's side have averaged the fourth-lowest possession figure, produced the fourth-fewest big chances and have conceded the sixth least xG.
Heidenheim have won seven of their nine competitive games this term, scoring 21 times and conceding on 11 occasions, though they have lost four, drawn four and won just three of their 11 most recent Bundesliga matches at home.
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RB Leipzig come into the clash disappointed considering they lost 3-2 against Juventus in their second Champions League game of 2024-25 despite leading 1-0 after 30 minutes and 2-1 after 65 minutes.
Of more concern to boss Marco Rose will be the fact his side had a player advantage from the 58th minute when Juve goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio was sent off, but his team failed to make the most of the 16 shots they had in that period and proved to be defensively vulnerable.
Rose said in the aftermath of the defeat that he hopes the team can take their disappointment and turn it into anger and added that Die Roten Bullen should have defended the box better.
Their defensive vulnerability on Wednesday contrasts with their league form given they have only conceded twice in their five league fixtures this season, the best defensive record in the division.
The visitors are also one of only two unbeaten teams left in the top flight, with Vincent Kompany's Bayern Munich also undefeated in the league.
Leipzig have won one, drawn two and lost two of their last five matches, though prior to these games they did win seven and draw three of the previous 10 competitive fixtures.
Die Roten Bullen have drawn three of their four most recent away games in the Bundesliga, but they have won five of their last eight matches on the road in the top flight.
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Team News
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The hosts will be without midfielders Niklas Dorsch, who was sent off against Mainz last time out in the league, and Julian Niehues, who is scheduled to return from a cruciate ligament injury in December.
Heidenheim winger Mathias Honsak and striker Mikkel Kaufmann are both likely to be unavailable until November.
Schmidt could name a similar XI to the side that beat Mainz, so expect Marnon Busch, Patrick Mainka, Benedikt Gimber and Jonas Fohrenbach to be selected in defence.
In midfield, Lennard Maloney may come in for Dorsch and be partnered by Jan Schoppner in a double pivot.
As for the visitors, midfielder Xaver Schlager is out until January 2025 due to a cruciate ligament injury, while Kevin Kampl is expected to return in the middle of the month.
Leipzig will also have to contend with the absence of Forzan Assan Ouedraogo and Christoph Baumgartner until later in October.
Rose may name a midfield four of Nicolas Seiwald and Amadou Haidara as a midfield double pivot, and the pair could be flanked by Antonio Nusa on the right and Xavi Simons on the left.
Lois Openda and Benjamin Sesko are certain to start together up front, with Sesko looking to continue his good form in front of goal after scoring five times in his five games for Leipzig this term.
Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Busch, Mainka, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Schoppner, Maloney; Traore, Wanner, Scienza; Pieringer
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Gulacsi; Henrichs, Orban, Castello, Raum; Nusa, Haidara, Seiwald, Xavi; Sesko, Openda
We say: Heidenheim 1-1 RB Leipzig
Given Heidenheim's strong defensive performance against both Mainz and Olimpija, it would not be surprising if they managed to frustrate Leipzig's attacking players.
However, the visitors have proven difficult to beat away from home in recent matchweek, and it is difficult to see them losing on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
