Heidenheim vs. Stuttgart preview: Visitors continue UCL push | OneFootball

Heidenheim

Heidenheim are languishing at the bottom of the table after winning three, drawing four and losing 15 of their 22 league matches. Frank Schmidt’s side have gone nine consecutive matches without a win, including defeats in each of their past four outings. They appeared to be on course to play out a goalless draw against Augsburg before Alexis Claude-Maurice netted an 80th-minute penalty to decide the contest. 

As a result of their dismal form, Heidenheim are six points adrift of the relegation playoff spot and seven points away from safety altogether. Heidenheim have work to do at both ends of the pitch if they are to close the gap to safety, given that they have the Bundesliga’s worst defensive record with 48 goals conceded and are the lowest scorers with 19 goals. In fact, they have failed to score in nine of their 22 top-flight encounters, including three of their last four outings. 

Team News

Heidenheim are unable to call upon long-term absentee Leart Paçarada. Meanwhile, Schmidt has revealed that Niklas Dorsch will be available after missing the defeat to Augsburg due to illness. 

Predicted lineup: Ramaj; Busch, Mainka, Gimber, Behrens; Schöppner, Niehues, Dorsch; Dinkci, Ibrahimovic, Pieringer

Stuttgart

Stuttgart are currently sitting in fourth spot after winning 13, drawing three and losing six of their 22 Bundesliga matches. Sebastian Hoeneß’s side have won three of their previous four top-flight games, including a 3-1 success in last Saturday’s home meeting with FC Köln. 

Die Schwaben followed that result with a successful trip to Glasgow on Thursday. Bilal El Khannouss netted a brace as Stuttgart eased to a 4-1 victory in the first leg of their Europa League knockout phase playoff tie against Bilal El Khannouss. Impressively, Stuttgart have now scored at least three goals in each of their past five away victories, although they experienced disappointment in their most recent Bundesliga road trip against St. Pauli, which ended in a narrow 2-1 defeat. 

Stuttgart are looking to complete a league double over Heidenheim after claiming a 1-0 victory in October’s reverse fixture. They can take confidence from the fact they picked up a 3-1 win on their most recent visit to the Voith-Arena in December 2024.

Team News

The visitors are expected to be without the services of Justin Diehl, Lazar Jovanović and Dan-Axel Zagadou due to injury. 

Predicted lineup: Nübel; Assignon, Jaquez, Chabot, Mittelstädt; Chema, Stiller; Leweling, El Khannouss, Führich; Demirović