Opponent analysis: RB Leipzig vs. 1. FC Heidenheim

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1 December 2023, 18:15 yayınlandı

Aiming for another home win!

After two consecutive wins at the Red Bull Arena, our lads want to claim all three points in front of a home crowd again on Saturday at 15:30 CET. The opponents for Bundesliga Matchday 13 will be 1. FC Heidenheim.

Our guests from Baden-Württemberg were promoted to the German top flight last season and have picked up 11 points from 12 games so far, leaving them in 13th position in the standings. FCH are particularly dangerous in attack.

In our opponent analysis, we’ve compiled all the information on FCH’s form, key players and recent record against RB Leipzig.

Tickets für unser Heimspiel!

1. FC Heidenheim’s current form

The team from Heidenheim an der Brenz has only managed to win one game from the last six, but their win came against the in-form VfB Stuttgart (2-0).
In their last away match, FCH lost 4-2 to FC Bayern, but they caused problems for the German record champions and put in a good performance. Their most recent home game against VfL Bochum last weekend ended goalless.

FCH’s last five competitive games

0-0 against VfL Bochum (Matchday 12)
4-2 loss to FC Bayern München (Matchday 11)
2-0 win over VfB Stuttgart (Matchday 10)
3-1 loss to Borussia Mönchengladbach (DFB-Pokal 2nd round)
2-1 loss to Borussia Mönchengladbach (Matchday 9)

Key facts

1. FC Heidenheim have won three Bundesliga games so far, with all three wins coming at home. The 4-2 win over SV Werder Bremen was their first win in front of their home crowd, followed by a 1-0 victory over 1. FC Union Berlin and the impressive 2-0 win against Stuttgart.
Heidenheim have only picked up one point away from home this term; Werder Bremen are the only other side in the league to have only picked up one point on the road. Their only away point came in their trip to Dortmund (2-2).

Heidenheim are particularly good at scoring goals from outside the box. Our guests have already scored five goals from outside the area. Only RBL have scored more long shots in the Bundesliga.

Squad

Transfer market

Heidenheim strengthened their squad in the summer. In attack, Marvin Pieringer was brought in from FC Schalke 04, Nikola Dovedan from Austria Wien and Eren Dinkçi on loan from SV Werder Bremen. Benedikt Gimber (SSV Jahn Regensburg) and Omar Haktab Traoré (VfL Osnabrück) were brought in in defence and Tim Siersleben was signed, following his loan spell from VfL Wolfsburg.
Several squad players also left the club. Dzenis Burnic (Karlsruher SC), Andreas Geipl (SSV Jahn Regensburg), Marvin Rittmüller (Eintracht Braunschweig), Merveille Biankadi (Arminia Bielefeld), Melvin Ramusovic (Stuttgarter Kickers) and Mert Arslan (Lok Leipzig) all moved from FCH, but they weren’t a key part of the team the season before.

Key players

Patrick Mainka is the promoted side’s captain and defensiveleader. He played every minute of every competitive game last season. The 29-year-old played for the reserve teams at Arminia Bielefeld, Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund in the past. He made the leap into professional football in Heidenheim and has also been showing in the Bundesliga that he can play a good role at this level.
Heidenheim’s dangerous offensive trio is made up of the wingers Eren Dinkçi and Jan-Niklas Beste and the central striker Tim Kleindienst. Together they’ve scored 15 of FCH’s 17 Bundesliga goals.
Beste is also FCH’s main set-piece taker and provider of assists. In addition to his five goals, he’s also got five assists so far this season. The 24-year-old is having a breakthrough Bundesliga season.

Absentees

Heidenheim’s famously strong attacking trio won’t be able to play together on matchday 13, as Eren Dinkçi will be absent due to a yellow card suspension. This a real blow for the visitors, as the loaned forward from SV Werder Bremen is one of the fastest players in the league, and poses the biggest goal threat in the team with five under his belt so far this season.
FCH are coping with the absence of Thomas Keller and Elidon Qenaj, who have both torn their ACL, as the pair are not regulars in the starting XI.

Head coach

Freiburg’s Christian Streich had the title of the longest-serving manager in the Bundesliga for a long time, but that has changed as a result of Heidenheim’s promotion. Frank Schmidt has been in the job for more than 16 years at FCH. The 49-year-old was initially appointed as interim coach shortly after the end of his playing career. “Take a couple of games, we need to look for a new head coach,” those in charge of the club supposedly told Schmidt, but he then stayed permanently.
FCH are coping with the absence of Thomas Keller and Elidon Qenaj, who have both torn their ACL, as the pair are not regulars in the starting XI.

RBL vs. Heidenheim

Head-to-head

2 wins, 3 draws, 1 defeat – 8:5 goal record
1 home win, 1 away win
Top goalscorer: Dominik Kaiser (3 goals)
Biggest win: 3-1 on 2nd March 2016 (Goals: Kaiser, Poulsen, Compper)

The last five matches

2nd March 2016 | 2. Bundesliga, matchday 24: RB Leipzig 3-1 1. FC Heidenheim
18th September 2015 | 2. Bundesliga, matchday 7: 1. FC Heidenheim 1-1 RB Leipzig
22nd March 2015 | 2. Bundesliga, matchday 26: 1. FC Heidenheim 1-0 RB Leipzig
6th October 2014 | 2. Bundesliga, matchday 9: RB Leipzig 1-1 1. FC Heidenheim
26th March 2014 | 3. Liga, matchday 31: RB Leipzig 1-1 1. FC Heidenheim