Xabi Alonso will hope that his Bayer Leverkusen side can return to winning ways when they welcome strugglers Heidenheim to BayArena in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign on Saturday.
The champions are in fourth place with 17 points and were held to a 1-1 stalemate against 18th and last-placed VfL Bochum last time out in the league on November 9, while the visitors are 14th with 10 points and were beaten 3-1 by Wolfsburg on November 10.
Match preview
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The international break came at a good time for Alonso given his side have won just once in their last six games in all competitions, drawing four and losing one in that time.
The hosts have also drawn their three most recent Bundesliga outings, and they will be particularly disappointed with their stalemate against Bochum considering Leverkusen took the lead in the 18th minute but conceded an 89th-minute equaliser.
Alonso bemoaned his team's inability to maintain their goal advantage over Bochum, telling reporters: "We again could not finish the game with a win and conceded before the end an equaliser. We have to do that better. We have to keep working on that and learn to handle it and secure the three points."
Leverkusen have kept five clean sheets in their 17 games this term, whereas they had kept the opposition at bay five times after the first 10 matches of 2023-24.
Though Die Schwarzroten's defensive displays have been far from ideal, fans may be concerned about the club's offensive showings, with the team having only netted once in their past three fixtures.
While the champions have already dropped points in six of their 10 Bundesliga games this season, they still boast a formidable record at BayArena given they have only been defeated once in their last 34 matches at home, winning on 27 occasions.
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Opponents Heidenheim come into the clash having scored just once against Wolfsburg despite creating 2.42 xG, considerably more than the Wolves' xG tally of 1.50.
In fact, the visitors produced five big chances in that game after only creating 19 combined in their prior nine top-flight matches.
Manager Frank Schmidt described the defeat as bitter, and he will no doubt be worried that his team have scored just two goals in their five most recent games.
Schmidt's team have lost three, drawn one and won one of their last five fixtures and have in fact triumphed in just one of their last seven Bundesliga outings, losing six in that time.
Heidenheim's away form is also concerning, with the team having lost three of their four most recent league games, though they did achieve a 2-0 victory against Hearts in the Conference League in their last away match on November 7.
Team News
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Leverkusen forward Amine Adli remains unavailable as a result of a broken leg and will not return until March 2025.
Martin Terrier could be selected in the forward line, while Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface are strong contenders to claim starting spots.
Defenders Jeanuel Belocian and Nordi Mukiele are ruled out until early December, so expect a back three consisting of Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie.
As for the visitors, they will be unable to select midfielders Julian Niehues, Thomas Leon Keller and Luka Janes, and Schmidt could start Lennard Maloney, Jan Schoppner and Niklas Dorsch as a trio in their absence.
Right-back Marnon-Thomas Busch is not likely to make his comeback until early next month, so Haktab Omar Traore is certain to continue on the right side of defence.
Traore may be partnered in a back four by centre-backs Patrick Mainka, Benedikt Gimber, as well as left-back Jonas Fohrenbach.
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Garcia, Grimaldo; Terrier, Wirtz; Boniface
Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Traore, Mainka, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Schoppner, Maloney, Dorsch; Wanner, Pieringer, Scienza
We say: Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Heidenheim
Leverkusen have struggled for goals of late, and it is difficult to see them immediately returning to goalscoring form, but it is equally difficult to overlook their impressive home record.
Given the hosts' resilience at BayArena, it would not be surprising if Heidenheim eventually succumbed to defeat against Alonso's side.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
