Preview: Heidenheim vs. Hoffenheim

Heidenheim will be looking to bounce back from their defeat last time out in the Bundesliga when they host Hoffenheim at Voith-Arena on Sunday in their eighth league game of the season.

The home team are in 10th place with nine points and lost 3-2 against Borussia Monchengladbach on October 19, while the away side are fifth last in 14th place with seven points after seven matchweeks.

Match preview

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The hosts had taken a 1-0 lead against Borussia Monchengladbach after just 12 minutes, but they can have no complaints with the scoreline given Die Fohlen created seven big chances and produced nearly double Heidenheim’s non-penalty xG total.

In their most recent match, Heidenheim beat Pafos 1-0 on Thursday in the Conference League thanks to Patrick Mainka‘s goal in the 25th minute.

Boss Frank Schmidt will be pleased with the clean sheet considering his side have conceded 12 times in their last seven games.

Schmidt’s team have been defeated in two of their three most recent matches and have lost four and won three of their last seven fixtures.

Heidenheim’s home record is poor, with the club winning just three times in their last 12 Bundesliga games at Voith-Arena.

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Meanwhile, opponents Hoffenheim come into Sunday’s clash having won 3-1 against VfL Bochum on October 19, their second success of the league campaign.

To manager Pellegrino Matarazzo‘s credit, his side have now won two and drawn one of their four most recent matches, although they did lose 2-0 against Porto in the Europa League on Thursday.

Matarazzo’s side were arguably unfortunate to have not taken any points from the Portuguese side considering Porto created no big chances and produced less than half of Hoffenheim’s 1.3 xG.

The visitors have been poor away from home for some time, losing 12, drawing four and winning just three of their last 19 matches on the road.

Hoffenheim are unbeaten in their last two league games, but they did lose the previous four top-flight fixtures, conceding 12 goals in those matches.

Heidenheim Bundesliga form:

Heidenheim form (all competitions):

Hoffenheim Bundesliga form:

Hoffenheim form (all competitions):

Team News

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The home team will have to contend with the absence of midfielder Julian Niehues until the middle of December due to a knee injury, while fellow midfielder Luka Janes is not scheduled to return until later in November.

Striker Maximilian Breunig is also expected to miss out until November, while midfielder Thomas Leon Keller is a doubt.

Heidenheim will almost certainly start Lennard Maloney and Jan Schoppner in a double pivot, while Marvin Pieringer could lead the forward line as a striker.

Hoffenheim have numerous injury concerns, including Ihlas Bebou until December, while Ozan Kabak and Grischa Promel have both suffered serious knee injuries.

Elsewhere, the visitors will also be unable to call upon Christopher Lenz, Dennis Geiger, Finn Becker and Marius Bulter until next month.

Wing-back Pavel Kaderabek is also a doubt, so expect Matarazzo to field a back five consisting of Valentin Gendrey, Tim Drexler, Anton Stach, Kevin Akpoguma and Alexander Prass.

Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Traore, Mainka, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Maloney, Schoppner; Beck, Wanner, Scienza; Pieringer

We say: Heidenheim 1-1 Hoffenheim

Hoffenheim are in somewhat better form of late, but their poor away record makes it difficult to see them taking all three points on Sunday.

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