Bayer Leverkusen is set to face Heidenheim this Saturday afternoon in a crucial Bundesliga match at the BayArena. As Leverkusen aims to solidify its position within the top four, Heidenheim seeks to break its streak of poor performances.
Match Preview: Bayer Leverkusen vs Heidenheim
Leverkusen recently rebounded from a disappointing 3-0 defeat against Bayern Munich. They secured a solid 1-0 victory over Benfica in the Champions League, showcasing their determination and resilience. The team, known as Die Werkself, has managed to gather 17 points from their first nine Bundesliga matches, suffering only two losses, including the one against Bayern.
With the third-best goalscoring record in the league, Leverkusen will look to exploit Heidenheim’s struggling defense. Heidenheim has had a rough start this season, sitting at the bottom of the table with only five points from nine games. Their challenging performance follows a 16th-place finish last season.
Heidenheim’s Situation
Despite their poor standing, Heidenheim’s head coach, Frank Schmidt, remains calm. Having nurtured the club from the fifth tier to Bundesliga, he understands the challenges that come with this level of competition. The team’s recent performances, including a resilient draw against Eintracht Frankfurt and a narrow loss to Stuttgart, suggest they could soon find form.
Team News
- Bayer Leverkusen:
- Ezequiel Fernandez (knee injury)
- Exequiel Palacios (groin issue)
- Axel Tape (hamstring injury)
- Nathan Tella (knee injury)
- Heidenheim:
- Sirlord Conteh (knee injury)
- Frank Feller (knee issue)
- Leart Paqarada (knee injury)
Predicted Lineups
Bayer Leverkusen:
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Flekken |
| DF | Quansah, Bade, Tapsoba |
| MF | Arthur, Andrich, García, Grimaldo |
| FW | Hofmann, Poku, Schick |
Heidenheim:
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Ramaj |
| DF | Traore, Mainka, Siersleben, Fohrenbach |
| MF | Beck, Niehues, Schoppner, Ibrahimovic |
| FW | Schimmer, Zivzivadze |
Match Prediction
The matchup is expected to be competitive. Despite some recent challenges, Heidenheim could present issues for Leverkusen. However, Bayer Leverkusen is favored to secure a victory, potentially with a scoreline of 2-1.
