Heidenheim eager to extend four-game unbeaten run in Leipzig clash.
Heidenheim vs
RB Leipzig
Bundesliga debutants Heidenheim aim to extend their unbeaten streak as they host in-form RB Leipzig, who look to continue their impressive record against promoted teams, in a tantalizing clash at Voith-Arena this Saturday at 14:30 [GMT+1].
Heidenheim
Bundesliga debutants FC Heidenheim picked up a 1-1 draw last time out when they faced Bochum. The game sprung to life in the final ten minutes when Keven Schlotterbeck [81’ O.G.] put the ball into his own net to give Heidenheim the lead. However, the defender went from villain to hero, redeeming himself as he put the ball into the right net in the final minute [90'] to restore parity.
The draw kept Frank Schmidt's side in 10th place on the Bundesliga table, having accumulated 34 points after 29 matches [8W, 10D, & 11L]. FC Heidenheim will host Leipzig this weekend, with the objective of finishing as high up the table as possible remaining the focus of their first-ever Bundesliga campaign. However, the hosts have won just one of their seven meetings against the Red Bulls in all competitions [1W, 3D, 3L].
Despite being unbeaten in the last four [1D, 3D, 0L], Heidenheim [LDDWD] will go into Saturday's clash having won just one of their last eight games [1W, 4D, 3L]. Schmidt is expected to deploy a 4—2—3—1 with Tim Kleindienst in attack for this fixture. Thomas Keller [ACL], Adrian Beck [ankle injury], and Elidon Qenaj [knee injury] all remain ruled out for the weekend’s game.
RB Leipzig
Leipzig remained in 4th place on the Bundesliga table with 56 points [17W, 5D, & 7L] following a comfortable 3-0 victory over Wolfsburg last Saturday. Goals from Dani Olmo [13'], Benjamin Šeško [68'], and Loïs Openda [82'] paved the way for the win, their fourth in five games [WWDWW].
The visitors are unbeaten in their last seven competitive matches [5W, 2D, 0L], including a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid in the UCL. It remains their longest unbeaten run this season, matching a similar streak achieved between August and September 2023. The Red Bulls will be looking forward to stretching their unbeaten run in the league to seven matches on Saturday.
They remain unbeaten in all 31 of their Bundesliga matches against promoted teams [28W, 3D, 0L] and could now equal FC Bayern Munich's record of going unbeaten in 32 such games if they avoid defeat here. A 4-4-2 formation with Openda, who is third on the Bundesliga scorers’ chart [22 goals], and Šeško was seen against the Wolves and is expected on Saturday against Heidenheim.
Marco Rose will be without Yussuf Poulsen, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, while up to four players, including Xavi Simons and Christoph Baumgartner, remain in doubt.
