In a match that both sides will feel they have to win, Champions League hopefuls RB Leipzig are set to welcome relegation-threatened Heidenheim to Red Bull Arena on Sunday in the Bundesliga.
Fifth-placed Leipzig drew 0-0 with Augsburg on February 14, and their tally of 37 points is two fewer than fourth-placed Freiburg, while Heidenheim are third last in 16th place with 14 points and occupy the league's relegation playoff spot.
Match preview
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Die Roten Bullen failed to convert their three big chances against Augsburg, and despite producing a figure of 1.24 xG, they were prevented from scoring for the second time in three games.
Goalscoring had previously not been a concern for boss Marco Rose, as his side had found the back of the net 10 times in their prior four matches, but his team have at least improved defensively in the past weeks.
Leipzig's three consecutive clean sheets is more than they managed in their previous 14 outings, with the club having conceded 14 goals in their prior five Bundesliga fixtures.
A victory on Sunday would be hugely significant for the hosts, as Freiburg's 5-0 win against Werder Bremen on Friday means they come into the clash two points from the fourth and final Champions League qualification spot but have a game in hand.
Rose's side have been difficult to beat considering they are undefeated in five Bundesliga matches, but they drew four times in that period, including against 17th-placed VfL Bochum, 13th-placed Union Berlin and 12th-placed Augsburg.
To their credit, Leipzig boast a strong record at home having triumphed in four of their five most recent games at Red Bull Arena, and their 2-2 stalemate with champions Bayer Leverkusen on January 25 was the only game they did not win in that run.
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The visitors were beaten 2-0 by Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga on February 16, failing to create a single big chance while also conceding two of the four shots they faced from inside the penalty area.
Heidenheim's defensive frailty has been a consistent problem, with the team only managing to keep one clean sheet in their last 18 matches in all competitions.
Head coach Frank Schmidt will be frustrated that his side were eliminated from the Conference League on Thursday when they lost 3-1 in the second leg of their tie against Copenhagen, whom they had beaten 2-1 in the first-leg on February 13.
Schmidt's team lost 1-0 against RB Leipzig in the reverse fixture to Sunday's match on October 6, extending their losing streak against Die Roten Bullen to four games.
Heidenheim come into the clash having been defeated in 14 of their past 18 matches – drawing two and winning two – and have lost six of their last eight away outings.
Team News
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Leipzig centre-back Willi Orban is eligible to play after serving a suspension, but defender Benjamin Henrichs will not return to the pitch this season after suffering an Achilles tendon injury.
Midfielders Forzan Assan Ouedraogo and Xaver Schlager are also unavailable, and their absence from the middle of the park may mean Amadou Haidara and Kevin Kampl continue in a double pivot.
Benjamin Sesko, Xavi Simons and Lois Openda may start in attack, though Antonio Nusa's knee injury could keep him sidelined until late March.
Heidenheim's injury list has shrunk considerably, but they will still be without striker Maximilian Breunig until the end of next month.
Expect Budu Zivzivadze to be supported in the forward line by Mathias Honsak, Marvin Pieringer and Frans Kratzig.
Midfielders Niklas Dorsch and Thomas Leon Keller will not be in the matchday squad, so perhaps Luca Kerber and Jan Schoppner will be stationed in front of the backline.
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Gulacsi; Klostermann, Orban, Lukeba; Baku, Haidara, Kampl, Raum; Xavi; Openda, Sesko
Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Traore, Mainka, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Kerber, Schoppner; Honsak, Pieringer, Kratzig; Zivzivadze
We say: RB Leipzig 2-0 Heidenheim
After a taxing European night on Thursday, Heidenheim are likely to be less energised than their hosts.
RB Leipzig could prevent the visitors from scoring considering their improved form at the back, and if their forwards are more clinical, then it is difficult to see them dropping points on Sunday.
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Lewis Nolan
