Preview: Heidenheim vs. VfL Bochum - prediction, team news, lineups

Both teams will be fighting to return to winning ways when Heidenheim host VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga on Sunday.

Heidenheim were defeated 4-2 by Bayern Munich in their last game, while Bochum drew 1-1 against FC Koln.

Match preview

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However, Heidenheim could take plenty of encouragement from their loss at the Allianz Arena, as they fought back from two goals down to bring the game level at one stage, showcasing their incredible fighting spirit.

The reigning champions ultimately proved their strength in depth when substitutes Raphael Guerreiro and Eric Choupo-Moting both scored late goals to take the game away from the visitors, but having already taken a point against Borussia Dortmund at Westfalenstadion this season, Heidenheim are clearly capable of competing with the best teams in the country.

As such, they should head into their potential relegation six-pointer against Bochum with plenty of confidence of winning. Frank Schmidt will be slightly concerned that his side have lost four of their last five games, but on the flipside they have won three of their last four home matches.

Making Voith-Arena a fortress could prove crucial in terms of their hopes of surviving in the club's first ever season at Bundesliga level, so Heidenheim surely can not afford to fall to another defeat against a team they will be targeting finishing above.

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Despite travelling to Heidenheim one point behind their forthcoming opponents, Bochum will be satisfied with the start that they have made to the season, as they sit two points and two positions above the relegation zone prior to a ball being kicked this weekend.

Die Unabsteigbaren did not win until their 10th game of the season, but the fact that this came via a 2-1 win away to SV Darmstadt 98 will give them plenty of confidence that they can do the same to another newly promoted team in their own back yard on Saturday.

Although they have only won one match, Bochum have proven themselves as a very difficult team to beat, having lost just one of their last five games. This has included draws at home against fellow strugglers Mainz 05 and Koln, as well as a more impressive stalemate away to Champions League representatives RB Leipzig.

Thomas Letsch will be acutely aware that his team need to find more victories if they are to move away from serious relegation danger at any stage, though, making their trip to Baden-Wurttemberg on Saturday a crucial one.

Team News

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Heidenheim will remain without Thomas Keller and Elidon Qenaj due to serious knee injuries, while Marvin Pieringer is extremely unlikely to feature due to an ankle issue.

Having both made decent impacts from the bench to help their side fight back against Bayern before ultimately falling to defeat, Kevin Sessa and Adrian Beck are both in contention to start in midfield. The latter could receive the nod in place of Jan Schoppner, but Schmidt is unlikely to make any other changes.

Bochum, meanwhile, will travel without Danilo Soares, Moritz Romling, Ivan Ordets, Jordi Osei-Tutu, Matus Bero, Michael Esser, Lys Mousset and Mohammed Tolba, with Letsch clearly having a very busy treatment table on his hands.

Lukas Daschner and Moritz-Broni Kwarteng were surprise inclusions in Letsch's starting XI against Koln, with Daschner scoring his first goal for the club to help them claim a draw; the 25-year-old should retain his place as a result, but Anthony Losilla will almost certainly return to the side after missing that match.

Heidenheim possible starting lineup:

Muller; Traore, Mainka, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Maloney, Theuerkauf; Dinkci, Beck, Beste; Kleindienst

VfL Bochum possible starting lineup:

Riemann; Gamboa, Masovic, Schlotterbeck, Bernardo; Losilla, Stoger, Osterhage; Asano, Hofmann, Daschner

We say: Heidenheim 2-1 VfL Bochum

Heidenheim's home form has been strong since gaining promotion to the Bundesliga for the first ever time, with Schmidt's side winning three of their five games at Voith-Arena. Even in their two defeats, they still scored twice on both occasions.

Although Bochum have proven tough to beat, scoring goals remains a major issue for them, with only Koln finding the back of the net less than Letsch's side. As such, we are struggling to envisage them gaining a positive result here given Heidenheim's firepower.

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