Visitors VfL Bochum will be the first team to be relegated from the Bundesliga if they lose against Heidenheim at Voith-Arena on Friday.
Bochum are last in 18th place with 21 points and occupy one of two automatic relegation spots, but with just three games remaining they are four points from 16th-placed Heidenheim, who occupy the relegation playoff spot following their 1-0 win against Stuttgart on April 25.
Match preview
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Heidenheim failed to produce an attempt from inside the box against Stuttgart but despite their opponents hitting the woodwork twice and creating nearly two xG, Mathias Honsak's 89th-minute winner ensured his side claimed an invaluable three points.
The hosts will be condemned to a bottom-three finish if they drop points and both Hoffenheim and St Pauli win on the weekend, but a victory on Friday will likely prevent a bottom-two finish if 17th-placed Holstein Kiel fail to win against Augsburg on Sunday given they have three fewer points.
Boss Frank Schmidt's side had not kept a clean sheet in the three games prior to their triumph last Friday – conceding eight - and they also failed to find the back of the net once in that time.
Though Heidenheim have been beaten in three of their last four matches, those losses came against the division's top three, and they did collect six points in their previous two games.
Schmidt's team have experienced defeat in 12 of their past 16 outings at home - winning on just two occasions - but while they have lost their two most recent matches at Voith-Arena, those clashes came against Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.
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Opponents Bochum drew 1-1 with Union Berlin on April 27 and were unfortunate to not take all three points given they limited Union to just one big chance and only 0.27 xG.
Die Blauen have not kept a clean sheet in their past nine games, a period in which they conceded 14 times.
Head coach Dieter Hecking oversaw a 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture on December 22, and his side have in fact triumphed in six of their past eight clashes with their hosts, drawing the other two matches.
Bochum's form coming to Voith-Arena is alarming considering they are winless in six matches, losing the five games before their draw against Union.
The visitors have also lost their last two on the road, but they did draw two and win one of their prior three away from home.
Team News
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Heidenheim have no injury concerns to contend with, but midfielder Niklas Dorsch is suspended, making Jan Schoppner, Adrian Beck and Marnon Busch the most likely candidates to appear in midfield.
The midfield trio could be asked to protect a back three consisting of Benedikt Gimber, Patrick Mainka and Tim Siersleben.
In the forward line, Honsak is almost certain to start considering his heroics last time out, and he could be joined by Marvin Pieringer.
As for Bochum, attacker Koji Miyoshi is their only injury absentee, so perhaps Giorgos Masouras and Gerrit Hofmann will play together in a front two.
Matus Bero and Tom Krauss appeared in midfield against Union, and the duo could be stationed alongside Ibrahima Sissoko, who is available once again following a suspension.
Goalkeeper Timo Horn could be shielded by Tim Oermann, Jakov Medic and Bernardo, especially as the three centre-backs featured in their side's most recent match.
Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Mainka, Gimber, Siersleben; Traore, Busch, Schoppner, Beck, Kratzig; Honsak, Pieringer
VfL Bochum possible starting lineup:
Horn; Oermann, Medic, Bernardo; Passlack, Bero, Sissoko, Krauss, Wittek; Masouras, Hofmann
We say: Heidenheim 1-1 VfL Bochum
Bochum must realistically win in order to challenge Heidenheim for their playoff spot, and they could be vulnerable to counter-attacks when searching for a goal.
However, Heidenheim have experienced difficulties in the final third, so perhaps Friday's clash will end in a stalemate.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
