Bayern Munich can move within four points of winning the Bundesliga title should they beat hosts Heidenheim at Voith-Arena on Saturday.
Heidenheim are third last in 16th place in the relegation playoff spot with 22 points while the Bavarians were held to a 2-2 stalemate by fierce rivals Borussia Dortmund last Saturday but their points total of 69 is still six more than second-placed Bayer Leverkusen.
Match preview
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Heidenheim lost 3-0 against Eintracht Frankfurt on April 13, facing nearly four xG and seven big chances, while also relying on the woodwork once.
To the hosts' credit, their defeat was the first time in five matches that they had conceded more than once in a game, though they have only scored one goal in their past three.
Boss Frank Schmidt's side are two points ahead of 17th-placed VfL Bochum, who reside in the second of two automatic relegation spots, and a loss on Saturday could condemn them to a place in the bottom three at the end of the season should 15th-placed St Pauli beat Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.
While Heidenheim were beaten in their two most recent fixtures, they won two and drew two of their prior five.
Schmidt's team have been poor at home, with the hosts having lost six of their last seven at Voith-Arena, winning just once.
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Bayern fans might have expected better against eighth-placed Dortmund, but while they did generate numerous opportunities in front of goal, they failed to convert six of their eight big chances.
The visitors' disappointing draw with BVB was compounded by their exit from the Champions League at the quarter-final stage for a fourth time in five seasons when they drew 2-2 with Inter Milan in the second leg on Wednesday, losing 4-3 on aggregate.
Manager Vincent Kompany will be alarmed by the rate at which his team are conceding goals, with his side having to pick the ball out of the net nine times in their last five games, more than they did in their previous 10.
The Bavarians emerged as 4-2 victors against Heidenheim in the reverse fixture on December 7, with 26 goals scored between the clubs in their past four meetings.
Bayern have drawn two and lost one of their last three in all competitions, but they did win six of their prior eight.
Kompany's side have been largely excellent on the road, with the club unbeaten in eight away outings, achieving victory five times.
Team News
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Heidenheim boast a relatively healthy squad, but they will still be without forwards Budu Zivzivadze and Mathias Honsak.
Marvin Pieringer and Adrian Beck started in a front two against Eintracht Frankfurt, and they could do so again against Bayern.
Centre-backs Marnon Busch, Patrick Mainka and Tim Siersleben may be stationed behind a midfield three consisting of Jan Schoppner, Benedikt Gimber and Niklas Dorsch.
Meanwhile, Bayern face the prospect of travelling to Voith-Arena without a number of key players, including defenders Alphonso Davies, Dayot Upamecano and Hiroki Ito.
Given that goalkeepers Manuel Neuer and Tarek Buchmann will also miss out, expect Jonas Urbig to be shielded by a defence featuring Konrad Laimer, Eric Dier, Kim Min-jae and Josip Stanisic.
With key attacker Jamal Musiala ruled out until early May due to a hamstring injury, perhaps striker Harry Kane will be supported by Michael Olise, Thomas Muller and Kingsley Coman.
Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Busch, Mainka, Siersleben; Traore, Schoppner, Gimber, Dorsch, Kratzig; Pieringer, Beck
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Urbig; Laimer, Dier, Kim, Stanisic; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Muller, Coman; Kane
We say: Heidenheim 1-2 Bayern Munich
Bayern will want to put their Champions League exit behind them, and they could start quickly against their hosts.
Although Heidenheim have not often conceded multiple goals, it would not be surprising if they ultimately fell short against the Bavarians.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
