Bundesliga | Gameweek 22

Feb 16, 2025 at 6.30pm UK

Voith-Arena

Heidenheim vs Mainz

Match preview

Heidenheim struggled to create much of anything in the final third against Freiburg, failing to create a single clear-cut chance throughout the match, and are the fifth worst attacking team in the Bundesliga with 26 goals conceded.

The home side returned to winning ways on Thursday in the first leg of their Conference League round of 16 play-off tie against Copenhagen, running out 2-1 winners after goals from Thomas Leon Keller and Tim Siersleben overturned a 1-0 first-half deficit.

Defeat on Sunday could be damaging for Frank Schmidt's side, who sit just one point above 17th-placed Holstein Kiel and three above 18th-placed VfL Bochum, who occupy the Bundesliga's two automatic relegation spots.

The win over Copenhagen was the first in six games for the Schwarzgelben, who had lost four and drawn one of their previous five, but only their second in 16 matches, during which time they have lost 12.

Heidenheim have also lost seven of their last 10 home games, scoring just six goals and conceding 18.

The visitors come into the game having missed all four of their big chances against Augsburg, although they did prevent their opponents from creating any big chances of their own.

Mainz have failed to find the back of the net three times in their last five games and are the second-worst attacking team in the top 11, having scored 33 times in the league.

Bo Henriksen's men are just five points adrift of fourth-placed RB Leipzig, who occupy the final Champions League qualifying spot, and have played a game less than the Red Bulls.

The Karnevalsverein were beaten 2-0 by Heidenheim in the reverse fixture on 28 September and have lost three, drawn one and won one of their last five matches in all competitions.

Mainz have also lost their last three away from home, although each of their four away defeats in the 2024/25 season have been by one goal.

Recent Perfomance

Heidenheim Bundesliga form:WDLLLL

Heidenheim form (all competitions):DLLLLW

Mainz 05 Bundesliga form:WLLWLD

Team News

Heidenheim's injury list is not extensive, but they will be without defender Jonas Fohrenbach and winger Niklas Dorsch.

Marnon Busch could come into the side on the left of a back four, with Benedikt Gimber, Patrick Mainka and Haktab Omar Traore joining him in defence.

In Dorsch's absence, Schmidt could look to Paul Wanner, Mathias Honsak and Frans Kratzig in support of Budu Zivzivadze.

Mainz will be without central defender Stefan Bell, while full-back Philipp Mwene is a doubt but should only be sidelined for a few days at most.

Danny da Costa, Moritz Jenz and Dominik Kohr are almost certain to start in a back-three, with wing-backs Silvan Widmer and Anthony Caci available on either flank.

First-choice striker Jonathan Burkardt came off the bench against Augsburg, but is likely to start in attack alongside Paul Nebel and Jae-sung Lee.

Possible starting lineup

Heidenheim possible starting lineup:

Muller; Traore, Mainka, Gimber, Busch; Kerber, Schoppner; Wanner, Kratzig, Honsak; Zivzivadze

Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:

Zentner; Da Costa, Jenz, Kohr; Widmer, Sano, Amiri, Caci; Nebel, Lee; Burkardt