Bundesliga | Gameweek 16

Jan 11, 2025 at 2.30pm UK

Voith-Arena

Heidenheim vs Union Berlin

Match preview

Heidenheim's defeat at the hands of bottom club Bochum was perhaps their most worrying performance of the season, as they failed to create a single real chance against a team that had failed to win any of their other 15 games in the 2024/25 season.

Manager Frank Schmidt will have been particularly disappointed with his side's defending for Bochum's second goal, as his players needlessly gave the ball away in their own box when trying to play from the back and failed to close down goalscorer Matus Bero.

Schmidt's side have scored 18 goals and conceded 33 in the Bundesliga, the fifth-worst offensive and third-worst defensive records in the division.

Heidenheim's form is worrying, as they are winless in their last nine matches, losing eight of them.

The hosts have also failed to win in their last seven home matches at the Voith-Arena, losing on five occasions.

Their opponents, Union Berlin, will be led by Steffen Baumgart in contrast to Bo Svensson, who has not managed a win since 20 October.

Baumgart found the back of the net 22 times in 68 appearances for Union between 2002 and 2004, but was sacked last November after less than a year in charge of Hamburger SV in the second division.

The Eisernen conceded just four goals in their opening seven Bundesliga games of the season, but have since conceded 15 in their next eight, scoring just six in the process.

Union's form has been worrying, with the club failing to win any of their last eight top-flight matches and losing four of their last five.

The visitors have also lost their last four Bundesliga games away from home and have won just two of their last 24 away from home.

Recent Performance

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Union Berlin Bundesliga form:DLLLDL

Team News

Heidenheim boss Schmidt has a relatively full squad to choose from, although striker Marvin Pieringer is suspended and midfielder Julian Niehues is not expected to return from injury until the end of January.

Fans can expect to see a midfield partnership of Niklas Dorsch and Jan Schoppner, while Paul Wanner could play in an advanced role.

Up front, Leo Scienza and Mathias Honsak are likely to flank striker Mikkel Kaufmann.

Union will be without midfielder Rani Khedira, who is suspended, while Laszlo Benes is doubtful, so Andras Schafer and Aljoscha Kemlein could start in the middle of the park.

Strikers Andrej Ilic and Ivan Prtajin are ruled out, which could mean that Jordan Siebatcheu will start in a front two alongside Benedict Hollerbach.

Goalkeepers Frederik Ronnow and Yannic Stein and defender Jerome Roussillon are unlikely to feature on Saturday, although centre-back Kevin Vogt is in with a chance.

Possible starting lineup

Heidenheim possible starting lineup:

Muller; Traore, Mainka, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Dorsch, Schoppner; Scienza, Wanner, Honsak; Kaufmann

Union Berlin possible starting lineup:

Schwolow; Doekhi, Vogt, Leite; Trimmel, Schafer, Kemlein, Rothe; Skov; Siebatcheu, Hollerbach