Not afraid of big names | Heidenheim preview

Next step towards the Champions League! 

RB Leipzig will visit promoted 1. FC Heidenheim on Saturday at 330pm. FCH are only missing a few points to secure their top-flight survival. But RBL wants to prevent the hosts from getting those points on Matchday 30, because we also urgently need the next win to maintain fourth place and Champions League qualification ahead of Borussia Dortmund.

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In Heidenheim, the Red Bulls can expect a team that is not afraid of big names and has already defeated several top teams in their own stadium.

Form, coach and personnel – we preview our opponents

Heidenheim form check

• Even Europe is still in sight
  Five games before the end of the season, Heidenheim are already well on the way to securing their top-flight status 34 points. The gap to seventh place, which might ultimately be enough to qualify for the Conference League, is five points smaller than that to the relegation play-off place in 16th (eight points).
   
• Home wins against Bayern and Stuttgart
  Heidenheim have shown several times this season that they’re not afraid of big names. In the last home game two weeks ago, Bayern Munich were beaten 3-2 after taking a two-goal lead. FCH also beat VfB Stuttgart 2-0 in front of their home fans in the first half of the season. So RBL should be warned, because Heidenheim is not an easy place to go.
   

Heidenheim’s last five games in all competitions

• 1-1 at VfL Bochum (Matchday 29)
• 3-2 against Bayern München (Matchday 28)
• 3-3 at VfB Stuttgart (Matchday 27)
• 1-1 against Borussia Mönchengladbach (Matchday 26)
• 0-1 at Augsburg (Matchday 25)
   

Personnel situation before #FCHRBL

• 4-3-3 system is standard
  Heidenheim’s coach Frank Schmidt consistently relies on a 4-3-3 system, which he usually only varies slightly. He has only deviated from the four-man defence in one game this season: In the first leg in Leipzig, FCH started with a back five. RBL won the game 2-1.
   
• Only a few positions contested.
  The majority of Heidenheim’s starting XI is set. There are usually only two positions in the final third that are contested. Marvin Pieringer is always a starting option instead of Jan Schöppner and Kevin Sessa, who were allowed to start the previous week. Since all of the regular players are fit, there is little reason for Schmidt to make changes.

   

Injured

• Thomas Keller (torn cruciate ligament)
   
• Elidon Qenaj (torn cruciate ligament)
   

The head coach

• Frank Schmidt is the longest-serving coach in the Bundesliga. The 50-year-old initially joined Heidenheim as an interim coach in 2007, shortly after the end of his playing career. “Play two games, we have to look for a new coach,” was what those responsible said to him at the time, according to Schmidt. But he stayed – for almost 17 years.

  During this time he led Oberliga minnows to the Bundesliga. And there is still no end to the collaboration in sight. Schmidt is now the longest-serving German professional coach ever. He is ahead of legends like Volker Finke, Otto Rehhagel and Thomas Schaaf in this regard. There is just a good fit between the FCH and his trainer and his success shows that he is exactly the right person for the job.
   

Coach facts

• Name: Frank Schmidt
• Geburtstag: 3  January 1974 in Heidenheim
• Posts: 1. FC Heidenheim
   
• Heidenheim’s starting XI in their last game
  Müller – Traore, Mainka, Gimber, Föhrenbach – Maloney – Sessa, Schöppner – Dinkci, Kleindienst, Beste
   

RB Leipzig’s H2H record with Heidenheim

Direct comparison

• 3 win, 3 draws, 1 defeat –10-6 on aggregate
• 2 home wins, 1 away win
• Top scorer: Yussuf Poulsen and Dominik Kaiser (3 goals)
• Biggest win: 3-1 on 2 March 2016 (Goals: Kaiser, Poulsen, Compper)
   

Played for both clubs

• Denis Thomalla (from 2014 to 2015 with RB Leipzig)

   

Where will 1. FC Heidenheim vs. RB Leipzig be shown?

• The game will be broadcast live on Sky from 3.15pm. on Saturday . To watch this you need a Sky subscription.

  You can also follow the game free of charge on our RBL-App – including live audio broadcast on Bullenfunk.

  And of course we are also live on our social media platforms  Twitter, Facebook andInstagram as well as our WhatsApp-Channel. There you will get all the information and exclusive content about the match.