MX23RW : Thursday, November 21 06:22:26| >> :600:355943:355943:
[monks data]
Hearts logo
Conference League | League Stage
Nov 7, 2024 at 8pm UK
Tynecastle Park
Heidenheim

Hearts
0 - 2
Heidenheim

FT(HT: 0-0)
Conteh (57'), Schoppner (89')
Maloney (42')

Preview: Hearts vs. Heidenheim - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Conference League clash between Hearts and Heidenheim, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Scottish side Hearts will hope to build momentum by winning their second consecutive game when they host German team Heidenheim in their third Conference League game of 2024-25 at Tynecastle Park on Thursday.

Hearts are sixth in the Conference League table with six points from a possible six and beat Omonia Nicosia 2-0 on October 24, while the visitors are ninth with six points from six and beat Pafos FC 1-0 on October 24.


Match preview

Hearts head coach Neil Critchley during the William Hill SPFL Premiership match on October 19, 2024© Imago

The Scottish side have had a poor season so far given they are second last in 11th place in the Scottish Premiership with nine points from 12 matches, though they are only three points from automatic safety.

Boss Neil Critchley took charge of the club in the middle of October after Steven Naismith was sacked when he failed to pick up a single win in his side's first six league outings.

Since Critchley's appointment, the Scottish club have won three, drawn one and lost one of their five matches under the Englishman, scoring 10 goals and conceding four times.

Hearts were leading 2-0 against Omonia Nicosia after just 23 minutes thanks to goals from Alan Forrest and Blair Spittal, and the team were deserving winners given their opponents failed to create a single big chance.

The hosts have won two, drawn one and lost one of their four most recent home games and have also won three of their last four Conference League matches at Tynecastle Park.

Frank Schmidt of FC Heidenheim takes a selfie for a fan before his side's match against Borussia Monchengladbach, on October 19, 2024© Imago

As for Heidenheim, while they began their league campaign in the Bundesliga with two wins, they have lost five, drawn one and won just one of their subsequent seven top-flight fixtures and are currently 12th in the table.

Frank Schmidt's side were also eliminated from the second round of the DFB-Pokal on October 30 when they lost 2-1 against Hertha Berlin.

Schmidt's team prevented Pafos from creating a single big chance against them, though fans may still be concerned that the German team faced 15 shots.

Heidenheim have lost four, drawn one and won just one of their last six games in all competitions, scoring four goals and conceding seven times in that period.

The visitors have also lost four and won two of their last six away games, although it should be noted they have prevailed in all four of their matches in the Europa League.

Hearts Conference League form:


Hearts form (all competitions):


Heidenheim Conference League form:


Heidenheim form (all competitions):



Team News

Lennard Maloney of Heidenheim during his side's match against Borussia Dortmund on September 13, 2024© Imago

Hearts will be unable to select defender Gerald Taylor until early January 2025 as a result of a knee injury, while midfielder Calem Nieuwenhof is not scheduled to return from a hamstring injury until the middle of this month.

Adam Forrester, Frankie Kent, Kye Rowles and Stephen Kingsley are likely to start in defence behind a midfield double pivot consisting of Malachi Boateng and Cameron Devlin.

Winger Yutaro Oda has also been ruled out, so expect Critchley to field a front two consisting of Blair Spittal and Lawrence Shankland.

Heidenheim will be without midfielder Julian Niehues until December, as well as midfielder Luka Janes until late November.

Elsewhere, midfielders Thomas Leon Keller and Lennard Maloney are not expected to be ready for Thursday's clash, so perhaps the visitors will start with Luca Kerber and Niklas Dorsch in a double pivot.

Marnon Busch, Patrick Mainka, Tim Siersleben and Norman Theuerkauf are almost certain to start in defence in front of goalkeeper Kevin Muller.


Hearts possible starting lineup:
Gordon; Forrester, Kent, Rowles, Kingsley; Vargas, Boateng, Devlin, Forrest; Shankland, Spittal

Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Busch, Mainka, Siersleben, Theuerkauf; Kerber, Dorsch; Conteh, Beck, Honsak; Kaufmann


SM words green background

We say: Hearts 1-1 Heidenheim

Heidenheim have struggled for results in recent weeks, but they have a strong record in the Europa League, and they could come away from Tynecastle Park with a point.

Additionally, though Hearts have been in somewhat better form since Critchley's appointment, the visitors proved to be defensively resilient against Pafos, and it would not be surprising if they frustrated their hosts.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Game History

How you voted: Hearts vs Heidenheim

Hearts
62.0%
Draw
9.9%
Heidenheim
28.2%
71
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League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Chelsea33009
2Legia33009
3Jagiellonia33009
4Rapid Vienna33009
5Heidenheim33009
6Guimaraes33009
7Shamrock32107
8Fiorentina32016
9Ljubljana32016
10Pafos32016
11Hearts32016
12Lugano32016
13Gent32016
14Vikingur 32016
15Borac Banja Luka31114
16Cercle Brugge31114
17Djurgarden31114
18Betis31114
19APOEL31114
20New Saints31023
21Astana31023
22Celje31023
23Omonia31023
24Molde31023
25Backa Topola31023
26HJK Helsinki31023
27St Gallen31023
28Noah31023
29Copenhagen30212
30LASK30212
31Panathinaikos30121
32Istanbul30121
33Mlada Boleslav30030
34Dinamo Minsk30030
35Larne30030
36Petrocub30030


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