In a match that could have a significant impact on the relegation battle and race for European football, Heidenheim will welcome Stuttgart to Voith-Arena on Sunday in their 14th Bundesliga match of their campaign.
The hosts are third last in 16th place with 10 points and were beaten 4-2 by leaders Bayern Munich last time out in the league on December 7, whereas the visitors are eighth with 20 points from 13 games and narrowly defeated Union Berlin 3-2 on December 6.
Match preview
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Heidenheim started the season in strong fashion, winning their first five games, but they now occupy the division's relegation playoff spot and have won just four times in 17 matches, losing each of their last six in all competitions.
This period of defeats also includes a 3-1 loss against Istanbul Basaksehir in the Conference League on Thursday, a fixture in which they faced four big chances and conceded twice in the first 18 minutes.
Manager Frank Schmidt admitted that his side were outclassed, telling reporters: "We were shown off from the first to the last second, by an opponent who punished our mistakes from the beginning."
Schmidt's team have conceded 21 goals in their six most recent fixtures while scoring six times, and they have lost seven and drawn one of their past eight Bundesliga outings.
Heidenheim's record at home is poor considering they are winless in their last five at Voith-Arena, scoring just once and conceding on 10 occasions while succumbing to defeat four times.
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Meanwhile, Stuttgart trailed Union Berlin 2-0 after 48 minutes but managed to score three times between the 51st and 59th minutes to turn the game around.
Though boss Sebastian Hoeness was pleased with the victory, he still criticised his players for their poor first-half performance, saying: "It was difficult to see what we played in the first half today, Of course, Union can defend well, and yet we weren't brave enough and lost many important duels."
Hoeness's team also triumphed 5-1 against Young Boys in the Champions League on Wednesday despite conceding first after six minutes, and the result means the team are now 26th in the league phase table, one point and two places from a round of 16 playoff spot.
Die Roten's record of 26 goals netted and 23 conceded in the Bundesliga is the top flight's fifth-best offensive and 11th best defensive return.
Stuttgart come into the clash in good form having won their last three games by a cumulative score of 11-3 and have only lost one of their past six matches in the league, winning three and drawing two.
However, the club have been poor on the road this term given they have lost three, drawn three and won just two of their eight most recent away games, and are winless in their last four away fixtures in the Bundesliga.
Team News
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Schmidt rested goalkeeper Kevin Muller and defender Patrick Mainka against Istanbul Basaksehir, and it would be surprising if he left them out of the starting lineup on Sunday.
However, the hosts will be without midfielders Luka Janes, Julian Niehues, and this could mean that Jan Schoppner and Niklas Dorsch may start in a double pivot.
Forward Marvin Pieringer has been ruled out while Mikkel Kaufmann is a doubt, so expect to see an attack consisting of Paul Wanner, Leo Scienza and Mathias Honsak.
As for the visitors, they will not be able to select defender Dan-Axel Zagadou, so perhaps they will field a back four of Josha Vagnoman, Anthony Rouault, Julian Chabot and Maximilian Mittelstadt.
Stuttgart have several injury concerns in attack, with Deniz Undav, El Bilal Toure, Jamie Leweling and Luca Raimund set to miss Sunday's match, and their absence could lead Hoeness to start Enzo Millot, Nick Woltemade, Chris Fuhrich and Ermedin Demirovic in the forward line.
In midfield, the visitors are almost certain to select Angelo Stiller, and he may be partnered by Atakan Karazor.
Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Maloney, Mainka, Gimber; Traore, Schoppner, Dorsch, Fohrenbach; Wanner, Scienza; Honsak
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Vagnoman, Rouault, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Karazor, Stiller; Millot, Woltemade, Fuhrich; Demirovic
We say: Heidenheim 1-3 Stuttgart
Stuttgart have been devastating in front of goal in the past weeks, and they will feel confident they can take advantage of their struggling hosts.
However, Heidenheim could occasionally create good opportunities in the final third given the visitors have not been defensively resilient of late.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
