In a relegation six-pointer, VfL Bochum will hope to defeat Heidenheim when they welcome them to Vonovia Ruhrstadion on Sunday in their 15th Bundesliga game of the season.
The hosts are last in 18th place and picked up their third point of the campaign when they drew 1-1 with Union Berlin on December 14, while their opponents are 16th with 10 points and lost 3-1 against Stuttgart on December 15.
Match preview
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Bochum can be proud of their performance against Union Berlin considering they were reduced to 10 men in the 13th minute, and though they faced four big chances, only one of those opportunities came in the second half.
Boss Dieter Hecking has only been in charge for five games but has already drawn twice, earning more points than previous manager Peter Zeidler did this campaign.
Die Blauen have conceded six goals and scored two times under Hecking, whereas they had conceded on 22 occasions in their previous five matches, though they did net six goals in that period.
Bochum are winless in their last 16 league outings, losing 13 times and drawing three games, and they have won just twice in their 26 most recent matches.
The hosts' record at home is slightly better than their overall record having triumphed once in their past eight Bundesliga fixtures at Vonovia Ruhrstadion, though they have still lost five and drawn two of their last seven games in the league at home.
![Frank Schmidt, head coach of Heidenheim, speaking in a press conference on August 26, 2024 [on August 27, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/35/frank-schmidt.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Frank Schmidt, head coach of Heidenheim, speaking in a press conference on August 26, 2024 [on August 27, 2024]")
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Opponents Heidenheim can have few complaints about their defeat against Stuttgart considering they faced six big chances while only creating one of their own.
The loss meant that the visitors come into Sunday's clash occupying the division's relegation playoff spot, five points ahead of second last Holstein Kiel and one point behind 15th-placed St Pauli.
Head coach Frank Schmidt can at least be pleased with his side's showing in the Conference League as the club's 1-1 draw on Thursday with St Gallen was enough to earn his team a place in the competition's round of 16 playoffs.
Heidenheim's draw on Thursday was the first time they had avoided defeat in their last eight matches, a period in which the club conceded 25 times and scored eight goals.
The visitors have also lost four of their five most recent away games and have been defeated in each of their last four Bundesliga fixtures on the road.
Team News
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Forward Koji Miyoshi was sent off against Union Berlin, and in his absence, Hecking could start Moritz Broschinski and Philipp Hofmann in a front two.
Bochum are likely to use the same back three that played last weekend, so expect Tim Oermann, Ivan Ordets and Bernardo to feature.
In midfield, the hosts could line up with Matus Bero, Anthony Losilla and Ibrahima Sissoko, while wing-backs Felix Passlack and Maximilian Wittek are almost certain to be selected.
As for the visitors, centre-back Benedikt Gimber is suspended so perhaps Patrick Mainka and Tim Siersleben will be stationed in front of goalkeeper Kevin Muller.
Niklas Dorsch, Lennard Maloney and Jan Schoppner may be trusted to start in midfield given Julian Niehues is not scheduled to return until next month.
In the forward line, wide players Paul Wanner and Mathias Honsak are likely to flank striker Marvin Pieringer.
VfL Bochum possible starting lineup:
Drewes; Oermann, Ordets, Bernardo; Passlack, Bero, Losilla, Sissoko, Wittek; Broschinski, Hofmann
Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Busch, Mainka, Siersleben, Fohrenbach; Dorsch, Maloney, Schoppner; Wanner, Pieringer, Honsak
We say: VfL Bochum 0-1 Heidenheim
Bochum's hard-fought draw last time out does not make up for their dire form this season, though they are likely to pose a significant challenge to Heidenheim considering their spirited display against Union Berlin.
However, the visitors simply must take advantage of their hosts if they are to escape the relegation playoff spot, and they should take confidence from their qualification for the Conference League's round of 16 playoffs.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
