Heidenheimvs.RB Leipzig

Die Roten Bullen are seeking to complete the double over the hosts after they won 2-1 in the reverse fixture four months ago.

Match preview

Heidenheim were unable to follow up their memorable 3-2 home triumph over Bayern Munich with another three points, as they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with VfL Bochum last weekend.

FCH were on course to claim their ninth win of the season when Keven Schlotterbeck put the ball into his own net nine minutes from time, but the Bochum defender quickly made amends as he restored parity with a goal at the right end on the 90-minute mark to salvage a point for the hosts.

Frank Schmidt's side have only won one of their last eight Bundesliga games, but they are unbeaten in their last four and sit 10th in the Bundesliga standings, just two points behind the top half of the table and only five points adrift of seventh-placed Augsburg.

A top-half finish would be viewed as an impressive achievement for Heidenheim in their debut Bundesliga season and that will be the target for Schmidt considering they are still to play each of the bottom three teams in their final five matches.

A tricky encounter with in-form Leipzig is up next for Heidenheim, though, and they enter Saturday's contest having only ever beaten Die Roten Bullen once in nine previous meetings - a slender 1-0 home victory as a second-tier club back in March 2016.

Since losing 2-1 away against Bayern on February 24, Leipzig have put together a strong run of form, collecting 16 points from a possible 18 available to strengthen their hopes of pipping Borussia Dortmund to fourth spot in the Bundesliga.

Die Roten Bullen followed up a comfortable 4-1 away victory over Freiburg with a convincing 3-0 home success against Wolfsburg last weekend courtesy of strikes from Dani Olmo, Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda.

Marco Rose's men head into their remaining five Bundesliga fixtures hovering just above Dortmund in fifth on goal difference, and while both teams are determined to secure fourth spot, fifth place may be enough to qualify for next season's revamped Champions League as Germany are currently one of the top two nations, along with Italy, in the European coefficient rankings, helped by both Dortmund and Bayern's progression to the semi-finals earlier this week.

Leipzig have made significant improvements away from home in recent weeks as they have won their last three league games on the road by an aggregate score of 13-3; they only celebrated success in one of their seven away matches prior to this run.

Die Roten Bullen enter Saturday's encounter having not lost any of their last 31 matches with promoted teams (W28 D3) and they will equal a German top-flight record set by Bayern (32) between 2010 and 2018 if they avoid defeat against Heidenheim.

Heidenheim Bundesliga form:

L

L

D

D

W

D

RB Leipzig Bundesliga form:

W

W

W

D

W

W

RB Leipzig form (all competitions):

D

W

W

D

W

W

Team News

Heidenheim will be without Thomas Keller and Elidon Qenaj as they continue to recover from knee injuries, while Adrian Beck is doubtful with an ankle problem.

A back four of Omar Traore, Patrick Mainka, Benedikt Gimber and Jonas Fohrenbach is set to remain intact, while Kevin Sessa could continue in an advanced midfield role ahead of Lennard Maloney and Jan Schoppner.

Tim Kleindienst has scored a team-high 11 goals so far this season and he is expected to be supported in attack by wingers Eren Dinkci and Jan-Niklas Beste, who have chipped in with 15 goals between them thus far.

As for Leipzig, Yussuf Poulsen remains their only injury absentee as he continued to recover from a hamstring problem, while Kevin Kampl (illness) will be assessed ahead of kickoff.

David Raum is available to return from a one-match suspension and is expected to start at left-back, with Benjamin Henrichs moving over to right-back and Mohamed Simakan dropping down to the substitutes' bench.

Top scorer Openda, who has 22 goals to his name this term including five goals in his last four games, is set to continue his partnership up front with Sesko, who is looking to make the net ripple for a third successive game.

Heidenheim possible starting lineup:

Muller; Traore, Mainka, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Schoppner, Maloney; Dinkci, Sessa, Beste; Kleindienst

RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:

Gulacsi; Henrichs, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; Olmo, Haidara, Schlager, Simons; Openda, Sesko

We say: Heidenheim 1-3 RB Leipzig

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