Match preview

Heidenheim are assured of a Conference League round of 16 playoff spot and still have a chance to qualify automatically for the round of 16 by finishing in the top eight given they are just three points from third-placed Fiorentina.

Despite accumulating 59% possession and producing 16 shots, boss Frank Schmidt's side still faced four big chances and were notably weak when defending set pieces against Istanbul Basaksehir.

The hosts' form in the Conference League had contrasted to their poor domestic form considering they won their first three games in the league phase, but they have been defeated in each of their last seven games in all competitions, including in their two most recent European matches.

Schmidt's team have conceded 21 goals in their past six fixtures while finding the back of the net themselves just six times, and they are currently third last in 16th place in the Bundesliga.

Heidenheim's record at home is poor, with the club having lost five and drawn one of their last six matches at Voith-Arena, failing to score on four occasions.

Meanwhile, St Gallen are one point from 24th-placed Istanbul Basaksehir, who occupy the final round of 16 playoff spot, and are three points from 17th-placed Real Betis.

Their loss against Vitoria de Guimaraes was alarming given they faced a staggering 30 shots and 10 big chances, as well as 21 attempts from inside the penalty area.

Head coach Enrico Maassen's side are fifth last in eighth place in the Swiss top flight with 25 points after 18 matchweeks, though they are only two points from sixth-placed FC Zurich, who occupy the league's final championship playoff spot.

Maassen's team beat FC Zurich 2-0 last time out on December 15, but they failed to triumph in any of the previous six matches – drawing three and losing three – and have in fact won just three of their past 17 games.

The visitors have achieved victory three times in their five most recent away fixtures, but they have lost five and drawn one of their past nine matches on the road.

Team News

Heidenheim have relatively few injury concerns, though midfielders Julian Niehues and Lennard Maloney are likely to miss out until late December.

In light of their absence, perhaps Luca Kerber and Niklas Dorsch will start together in a double pivot.

Forward Sirlord Conteh could be unavailable due to illness, and if he is not declared fit to play on Thursday, then expect to see Adrian Beck, Paul Wanner and Leo Scienza play behind striker Maximilian Breunig.

As for St Gallen, midfielder Gregory Karlen has been ruled out for the rest of the season, and this could mean the visitors line up with Lukas Gortler, Mihailo Stevanovic and Corsin Konietzke in the middle of the park.

Forwards Christian Witzig, Chadrac Akolo and Kevin Csoboth may be selected to start considering strikers Jovan Milosevic and Willem Geubbels are both injured.

Defender Musah Nuhu will not be available, so expect Hugo Vandermersch, Abdoulaye Diaby, Albert Vallci and Chima Okoroji to feature in a back four.

Heidenheim possible starting lineup:

Eicher; Busch, Maloney, Siersleben, Theuerkauf; Kerber, Dorsch; Beck, Wanner, Scienza; Breunig

St Gallen possible starting lineup:

Zigi; Vandermersch, Diaby, Vallci, Okoroji; Gortler, Stevanovic, Konietzke; Witzig, Csoboth, Akolo