Bundesliga | Gameweek 14

Dec 15, 2024 at 2.30pm UK

Voith-Arena

Heidenheimvs.Stuttgart

Match preview

Heidenheim started the season strongly, winning their first five games, but they are now in the relegation zone and have won just four times in 17 games, losing their last six in all competitions.

That run includes a 3-1 Conference defeat to Istanbul Basaksehir on Thursday, a game in which they missed four good chances and conceded twice in the opening 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 side have conceded 21 goals and scored six in their last six matches, losing seven and drawing one of their last eight Bundesliga games.

Heidenheim's home record is poor as they are winless in their last five matches at the Voith-Arena, scoring just once, conceding 10 times and losing four.

Stuttgart, meanwhile, were 2-0 down after 48 minutes against Union Berlin, but scored three goals between the 51st and 59th minutes to turn the game around.

While coach Sebastian Hoeness was pleased with the win, he 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, but we weren't brave enough and lost many important duels.

Hoeness's side also triumphed 5-1 over Young Boys in the Champions League on Wednesday, despite conceding the first goal after six minutes, to move up to 26th in the league standings, one point and two places clear of a last-16 play-off spot.

The Roten have scored 26 goals and conceded 23 in the Bundesliga, the fifth-best offensive and 11th-best defensive record in the top flight.

Stuttgart go into the game in good form, having won their last three matches by a combined score of 11-3 and having lost only one of their last six league games, winning three and drawing two.

However, the club have had a poor run of form away from home this season, losing three, drawing three and winning just two of their last eight away games, and are winless in their last four away games in the Bundesliga.

Recent Performance

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Stuttgart Bundesliga form:WDLWDW

Stuttgart form (all competitions):WLDWWW

Team News

Schmidt rested goalkeeper Kevin Muller and defender Patrick Mainka against Istanbul Basaksehir, and it would be surprising to see him leave them out of the starting line-up on Sunday.

However, the hosts will be without midfielders Luka Janes and Julian Niehues, which could mean Jan Schoppner and Niklas Dorsch start in a double pivot.

Striker Marvin Pieringer has been ruled out, while Mikkel Kaufmann is a doubt, so expect an attack of Paul Wanner, Leo Scienza and Mathias Honsak.

As for the visitors, defender Dan-Axel Zagadou will be unavailable, so expect a back four of Josha Vagnoman, Anthony Rouault, Julian Chabot and Maximilian Mittelstadt.

Stuttgart have a number of injury concerns in attack, with Deniz Undav, El Bilal Toure, Jamie Leweling and Luca Raimund all set to miss Sunday's game, and their absence could see Hoeness call on Enzo Millot, Nick Woltemade, Chris Fuhrich and Ermedin Demirovic in attack.

In midfield, the visitors are almost certain to start Angelo Stiller, who could be partnered by Atakan Karazor.

Possible starting lineup

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