Possessing a narrow advantage after success in the first leg, Heidenheim will host Copenhagen in the second leg of their Conference League knockout phase playoff on Thursday night.
The Voith-Arena will witness an all-important clash between German and Danish outfits who are fighting hard for progression into the round of 16 in this competition.
Match preview
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Plying their trade in Bundesliga 2 as recently as the beginning of 2023, Heidenheim have enjoyed a remarkable rise to European stardom over the past two years, with Thursday night's hosts now plotting a move for a place in the last 16 of UEFA's third-tier club competition.
Focusing on domestic matters for a moment, FCH are currently enduring a six-game winless run in the Bundesliga, collecting just the single point across those fixtures, with their most recent match ending in a sobering 2-0 defeat at home to Champions League-chasing Mainz 05.
Heidenheim's only victory since the middle of January arrived at the Danish base of Copenhagen last Thursday night, when goals from Thomas Keller and Tim Siersleben completed a second-half turnaround for the visitors following Jordan Larsson's opener during the first period.
Winning just one of their last 17 top-flight contests, there is little chance that Frank Schmidt's men will be earning their way back into Europe via league position this term, with FCH currently occupying 16th spot in the Bundesliga standings, only a point above bottom side Holstein Kiel.
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Following nearly a two-month break from the heat of battle in the 2024-25 campaign, Copenhagen ran out of steam in the second half against Heidenheim last time out, meaning that Thursday night's visitors to Voith-Arena have it all to do in order to make the last 16 of the Conference League.
Byens Hold enjoyed a much-needed success during their first Danish Superliga match of the new calendar year, squeezing past the attentions of fellow top-six hopefuls Randers at Cepheus Park Randers courtesy of a convincing first-half display.
After losing grasp of their domestic crown last season, Copenhagen face a real battle to regain control of the title in Denmark, with Jacob Neestrup's men currently level on points with FC Midtjylland at the very summit of the standings.
Looking back before the New Year, Byens Hold will be desperate to avoid a repeat of their most recent outing on the Conference League stage in December, when a Nikolaus Wurmbrand brace helped Rapid Vienna to a 3-0 thumping of the Danish giants.
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Team News
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Heidenheim remain without the services of defensive midfielder Niklas Dorsch, who suffered a knee injury during the draw against Werder Bremen in January.
Subbed off at the half-time whistle last Thursday, 38-year-old Norman Theuerkauf is unlikely to start for FCH at Voith-Arena for the second leg.
A difference-maker on the Champions League stage last season, Swedish youngster Roony Bardghji is currently sidelined with a serious knee issue for Copenhagen.
There are also minor fitness problems to contend with ahead of Thursday's crunch clash, with Byens Hold stars Lukas Lerager and Nicolai Boilesen both doubts.
Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Feller; Busch, Mainka, Siersleben, Traore; Keller, Conteh, Wanner, Niehues, Scienza; Honsak
Copenhagen possible starting lineup:
Ramaj; Huescas, Pereira, Hatzidiakos, Lopez; Froholdt, Delaney, Mattsson; Larsson, Robert, Claesson
We say: Heidenheim 2-1 Copenhagen (Heidenheim win 4-2 on aggregate)
With home advantage and a one-goal lead from the first leg last week, Heidenheim should be confident of booking their spot in the last 16 on Thursday night.
Copenhagen certainly possess the greater European pedigree, although we feel that they will fall to a fatal defeat at Voith-Arena, killing their Conference League dreams.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
