Bundesliga | Gameweek 18

Jan 18, 2025 at 2.30pm UK

Voith-Arena

Heidenheim vs St Pauli

Match preview

Heidenheim ended a seven-game winless streak in their first Bundesliga outing of 2025 with a 2-0 home win over Union Berlin last weekend, before holding Werder Bremen to a 3-3 draw at the Weserstadion in their second league match of the year.

With four points from two games, Frank Schmidt's men have collected as many points as they did in their previous 13 league matches before the turn of the year.

After finishing eighth last season, the hosts have struggled for consistency this term, winning just four and drawing two of their 17 top-flight matches.

Schmidt's charges have been good in front of goal, finding the back of the net 23 times this term, but the same cannot be said of their defensive prowess, with 36 goals conceded to date, making them the third-worst defending side in the league.

The hosts have also struggled in front of their own fans, winning two, drawing two and losing four of their last eight matches - the second-worst home record in the Bundesliga.

Their poor run of form is unlikely to inspire confidence ahead of the visit of St. Pauli, but Heidenheim can draw inspiration from their recent league form and a 2-0 reverse fixture win.

A win for the home side would see them climb two places to 13th in the table, although this is dependent on Union Berlin losing to Mainz.

Meanwhile, St. Pauli's continued existence in the top flight is far from guaranteed given their results this season.

The Neighbourhood Kickers returned to the top flight for the 2024-25 season after a 14-year absence from the top flight, but their return to the Bundesliga has been far from easy - they sit 14th in the table with 14 points from 17 games, two places above the relegation play-off spot.

Like the home side, the visitors have struggled for consistency this term, underlining why they have been in and around the relegation zone since the start of the season.

Alexander Blessin's men may have ended 2024 with a 1-0 triumph over Stuttgart at the MPH-Arena in match week 15, snapping a two-game losing streak, but the visitors are yet to pick up a point in two league games in 2025.

Since the start of the year, St. Pauli have lost back-to-back league games to Eintracht Frankfurt (2-0) and Bochum (1-0), underlining the up-and-down nature of their campaign.

If they lose at the Voith-Arena on Saturday, they will go three games without a win for the first time since 15 September.

However, one ray of hope for the visitors is that they have fared better on the road, with three of their four wins this season coming away from home.

Recent Performance

Heidenheim Bundesliga form:LLLLWD

Heidenheim form (all competitions):LLDLWD

St Pauli Bundesliga form:WLLWLL

Team News

Frank Schmidt has a near-full-strength squad to choose from, but Julian Niehues (knee), Denis Thomalla (illness) and Mathias Honsak (muscle) are unlikely to feature.

Despite firing blanks on his return from suspension for Werder Bremen, six-goal Marvin Pieringer should start up front alongside Budu Zivzivadze.

For the visitors, Adam Dzwigala is suspended after being sent off against Bochum last time out, while Connor Metcalfe (muscle), Lars Ritzka (back), Robert Wagner (hamstring), Elias Saad (fitness) and Johannes Eggestein (illness) are all out.

Meanwhile, Nikola Vasilj is expected to continue in goal in the absence of Soren Ahlers and Sascha Burchert.

Possible starting lineup

Heidenheim possible starting lineup:

Muller; Traore, Mainka, Gimber, Busch; Wanner, Schoppner, Dorsch, Kratzig; Pieringer, Zivzivadze

St Pauli possible starting lineup:

Vasilj; Wahl, Smith, Nemeth; Irvine, Boukhalfa, Saliakas, Treu; Afolayan, Sinani, Guilavogui