With the scores level heading into the second leg of the Bundesliga's relegation playoff, visitors Heidenheim will hope to retain their top-flight status when they play 2. Bundesliga side Elversberg at Waldstadion an der Kaiserlinde on Monday.

Elversberg squandered a two-goal lead against Heidenheim in the first leg on May 22 and drew 2-2, with second-half strikes from Tim Siersleben and Mathias Honsak enough to draw Monday's away side level.

The hosts created numerous opportunities in the first half of the first leg, producing four big chances, but they their defensive vulnerability was exposed once again.

Elversberg have in fact kept just one clean sheet in their past seven matches in all competitions, though they did manage to net 15 goals in that time.

The team had previously never played above the third tier of German football before 2023, and they have lost three and drawn one of their last four encounters against top-flight clubs.

Regardless of his side's poor record against Bundesliga teams, head coach Horst Steffen will be confident that the club can achieve promotion considering they come into the game against Heidenheim unbeaten in nine matches, winning five in that period.

Elversberg have only lost one of their past seven fixtures in their own stadium – emerging victorious four times – but they have lost one and drawn one of their last four at home.

Opponents Heidenheim created no big chances in the first half against their hosts, but they generated five big chances in the second while restricting Elversberg to just one.

Though boss Frank Schmidt will be concerned that his side have conceded six goals in their past two, they did keep three clean sheets in their prior three.

It should be said that they also managed to find the back of the net six times in their three most recent outings, as many as they scored in their previous nine.

Heidenheim have proven difficult to beat in the past weeks having triumphed in two of their last five while only suffering one defeat.

The visitors boast a relatively strong record away from home, winning four and losing one of their seven most recent matches on the road.

Elversberg possible starting lineup:

Kristof; Baum, Rohr, Le Joncour, Neubauer; Fellhauer, Sahin; Petkov, Damar, Zimmerschied; Asllani

Heidenheim possible starting lineup:

Muller; Gimber, Mainka, Siersleben; Traore, Dorsch, Schoppner, Fohrenbach; Wanner, Honsak; Pieringer