There exists a solitary point and geographical disparity between Heidenheim and Borussia Monchengladbach as they prepare to confront each other in gameweek 26 of the Bundesliga at Voith-Arena on Saturday.
The hosts are currently enduring their most challenging streak since their ascension to the premier tier of German football. Conversely, Borussia Monchengladbach is eager to surpass their opponents by prolonging their undefeated streak in league matches to four, notwithstanding their unexpected elimination from cup contention earlier in the week.
Match preview
Heidenheim, since their inception in the Bundesliga following promotion, had been adept at addressing challenges with relative ease. However, their recent performance has been marred by three defeats in their last four matches, marking their most unfavorable streak in the top tier.
Under the stewardship of Frank Schmidt, the team has encountered one more loss in their recent run compared to the two losses suffered in the preceding 12 league fixtures. This trend underscores persistent difficulties in both performance and outcome.
The consecutive defeats at their home ground starkly contrast with the preceding six-game unbeaten streak, signaling concerning indicators for the upcoming fixtures.
Their forthcoming encounter at the Voith-Arena aims to break the pattern of consecutive losses. Nonetheless, previous encounters with the Foals in the 2023-24 season, resulting in a 2-1 loss in the reverse fixture and a 3-1 defeat in the DFB-Pokal, offer little reassurance prior to the match.
Recent results have relegated Schmidt’s team to the lower half of the league standings. A victory this weekend, coupled with Wolfsburg’s success against Augsburg, could potentially propel them to the ninth position.
Meanwhile, Borussia Mönchengladbach’s recent draw against FC Köln was overshadowed by a surprising quarter-final exit against Saarbrucken in the Cup competition, leaving them trophyless for the season.
With minimal stakes left in the current campaign, Gerardo Seoane’s squad finds themselves trailing Eintracht Frankfurt by 13 points for the final European qualification spot. Their substantial lead over Köln and Mainz suggests they are not in a relegation battle.
An area of focus for the remainder of the season could be to rectify their dismal away record, which has seen them fail to secure a victory since late September, effectively eliminating them from contention for the DFB-Pokal semifinals.
Their recent Bundesliga fixture against Mainz resulted in a draw, extending their away record to three draws and six defeats in nine outings, the poorest performance among top-flight teams since early October.
While the impact of this trend on Saturday’s match remains uncertain, a solitary win in 20 away games is a cause for concern irrespective of the opponent’s form.
Team News
Benedikt Gimber will be unavailable for the hosting team due to accumulation of five yellow cards, rendering the midfielder ineligible for participation this upcoming weekend.
Expected injury-related absences encompass Marvin Pieringer (hip), Adrian Beck (ankle), Lennard Maloney (knee), Thomas Keller (knee), and Elidon Qenaj (knee).
Jan-Niklas Beste’s corner kicks have led to a league-leading eight goals, showcasing a potent set-piece threat that could prove advantageous for the home team.
Conversely, the visiting team boasts statistically strong performance from dead ball situations, with Gladbach scoring seven goals from Franck Honorat’s corner kicks.
The visitors will be without Maximilian Wober (muscle injury), Alassane Plea (foot injury), and Tomas Cvancara (ankle injury).
Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Traore, Mainka, Siersleben, Fohrenbach; Schoppner, Maloney; Dinkci, Dovedan, Beste; Kleindienst
Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Nicolas; Elvedi, Itakura, Wober; Honorat, Kone, Weigl, Neuhaus, Netz; Jordan, Hack