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.
Match preview
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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.
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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.
Team News
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Elversberg boss Steffen will not be able to field centre-back Frederik Jakel until early June, and his absence makes Maximilian Rohr and Florian Le Joncour the most likely candidates to play in the heart of defence.
Midfielder Patryk Dragon is also injured, but regulars Robin Fellhauer and Semih Sahin have been declared fit.
Lukas Petkov, Muhammed Damar and Tom Zimmerschied may be stationed in attacking roles behind striker Fisnik Asllani.
Visitors Heidenheim only have concerns about the fitness of midfielder Luka Janes, so perhaps Schmidt will take no risks and select Niklas Dorsch and Jan Schoppner together in a double pivot.
Centre-forward Marvin Pieringer is likely to lead the line, and he may be supported by attackers Paul Wanner and Mathias Honsak.
In defence, goalkeeper Kevin Muller is almost certain to be shielded by a back three featuring Benedikt Gimber, Patrick Mainka and Tim Siersleben.
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
We say: Elversberg 1-2 Heidenheim (Heidenheim win 4-3 on aggregate)
Heidenheim have found goals easier to come by of late, and they will be confident of taking advantage of their hosts' defence.
Despite the fact Elversberg have shown they are capable of creating chances against Heidenheim, the visitors' top-flight experience could help them navigate a challenging second leg.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
