Heidenheim will hope to take advantage of struggling hosts Istanbul Basaksehir when they face them in the Conference League at Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadyumu on Thursday.
The home team are fourth last in 33rd place with just two points after four games and drew 1-1 with CS Petrocub on November 27, while their opponents are ninth with nine points but lost 2-0 against Chelsea on November 28.
Match preview
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The Turkish hosts have drawn their two most recent games in the competition, though they have been rather open defensively given they have already conceded 10 goals, the joint second-worst record in the tournament.
Manager Cagdas Atan will undoubtedly feel that his side should have taken all three points against CS Petrocub considering his team took the lead in the 42nd minute but conceded a 96th-minute equaliser.
Istanbul Basaksehir are seventh in their domestic league with 22 points after 14 matchweeks, but they are only four points from fourth-placed Eyupspor, who occupy the division's Conference League qualification spot.
The Grey Owls have won their two most recent games but prior to those two victories they lost five and drew five of the previous 10.
To their credit, the hosts' record at home is strong given they have only lost once in their last 12 outings at Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadyumu, though they have been held to a stalemate in four of their last six.
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Opponents Heidenheim have perhaps surprisingly performed well in Europe despite their struggles domestically.
The away side sit third last in 16th place in the Bundesliga with just 10 points from 13 games and have failed to win any of their eight most recent league outings, losing on seven occasions.
However, when including qualifiers, boss Frank Schmidt's side have triumphed in five of their six fixtures in the Conference League this term and are level on points with ninth-placed Lugano, who occupy the final automatic qualification spot to the round of 16.
Schmidt's team should not be too disheartened by the performance against Chelsea considering they created four big chances and were ultimately defeated by a high-level and high-spending opponent.
The visitors' record on the road has been underwhelming given they have lost four of their last five away matches, though one match was against Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen and another against giants Bayern Munich.
Team News
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Istanbul Basaksehir are likely to select a similar starting XI to the side that drew with CS Petrocub, so perhaps fans will see Leo Duarte, Ousseynou Ba, Jerome Opoku and Omer Ali Sahiner in a back four.
Olivier Kemen and Dimitrios Pelkas may start in midfield in slightly more advanced roles compared to Onur Ergun, who could be positioned as the deepest of the trio in the middle of the pitch.
In the forward line, expect Atan to field a front three consisting of Philippe Keny, Krzysztof Piatek and Joao Figueiredo.
As for the visitors, they will be without midfielders Julian Niehues and Luka Janes until late December.
In their absence, Schmidt could start a midfield three featuring Niklas Dorsch, Lennard Maloney and Jan Schoppner.
Forwards Mikkel Kaufmann and Marvin Pieringer are not scheduled to return from injuries until January and February respectively, so expect attackers Paul Wanner, Maximilian Breunig and Leo Scienza to appear up front.
Istanbul Basaksehir possible starting lineup:
Sengezer; Duarte, Ba, Opoku, Sahiner; Kemen, Ergun, Pelkas; Keny, Piatek, Figueiredo
Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Traore, Mainka, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Dorsch, Maloney, Schoppner; Wanner, Breunig, Scienza
We say: Istanbul Basaksehir 1-2 Heidenheim
Though Heidenheim have struggled in the Bundesliga, the Conference League has yielded positive results and performances, and they could take more points on Thursday.
Istanbul Basaksehir might be in slightly better form of late, but that does not negate the fact they have been vulnerable defensively in Europe this season, and it is difficult to see how they avoid defeat.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
