Heidenheim are in the relegation playoff spot in the Bundesliga table heading into Wednesday's gameweek 17 visit to mid-table Werder Bremen at the Weserstadion.
Bremen's three-match winning run in the top flight was halted by RB Leipzig on Sunday, and Ole Werner's team aim to claim maximum points against a relegation-threatened opponent that started 2025 with a 2-0 success over struggling Union Berlin, whose last victory was in October 2024.
Match preview
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After ending last year with victories over VfL Bochum (1-0), St Pauli (2-0) and Union (4-1), Bremen sought a fourth Bundesliga victory on the trot for the first time since February 2015, when they secured five consecutive successes, only to come unstuck at Leipzig.
The 4-2 reverse leaves the River Islanders ninth in the top flight, though they sit three places and two points adrift of a Freiburg side occupying the league's final European qualification spot and three points behind fifth-placed Mainz 05.
Die Werderaner should ideally back themselves to secure maximum points on home turf against the third-bottom visitors and extend their undefeated streak at the Weserstadion to five matches, but only two home wins this term dampen the hosts' confidence entering Wednesday.
Having also lost in three consecutive meetings against Heidenheim, including both times since the visitors gained promotion last term, Werner's men will be wary of their struggling opponents.
Regardless, optimistic Bremen supporters will point to the club's two victories on home soil coming in their last three matches — wins over Holstein Kiel (2-1) and Union (4-1) either side of a creditable 2-2 draw with Stuttgart — and they will back their team to clinch a third home success in four in gameweek 17.
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It will be fascinating to see if Heidenheim's win over the capital club proves to be the catalyst to cause a turnaround in results after going 10 Bundesliga rounds without winning before beating the Berlin outfit 2-0 on January 11.
Nine of those 10 fixtures ended in defeat for the third-bottom club, whose survival prospects looked bleak entering 2025.
Long-time boss Frank Schmidt was not relieved of his duties despite that wretched run, and his players rewarded that vote of confidence with success over Union, and the BaWu outfit are now chasing back-to-back Bundesliga wins for the first time since September, when they secured victories over promoted St Pauli (2-0) and Augsburg (4-0).
Without a doubt, a key factor in the away team's chances of success is keeping their opponents at bay, as evidenced by Schmidt's men losing every time they have conceded first this term.
Contrarily, Heidenheim have accrued 12 points from the four matches in which they have scored the opening goal — beating St Pauli, Augsburg and Mainz (2-0), and Union (2-0) — highlighting the importance of a strong start in Bremen.
Team News
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Marco Friedl is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Leipzig, and the defender is likely to be joined on the sidelines by the injured pair of Felix Agu (knee) and Keke Topp (ankle).
Having netted two match-winning goals apiece for the River Islanders, seven-goal man Jens Stage and Derrick Kohn aim to be decisive for Werner's troops on Wednesday.
Potentially pivotal to the home side's success are Marvin Ducksch and Mitchell Weiser, who have seven and five assists respectively, with the pair keen to unpick Heidenheim with their creativity in the attacking third.
Heidenheim have a few question marks before the 17th round, with Benedikt Gimber (knee), Julian Niehues (knee), Leo Scienza (ankle) and Mathias Honsak (muscle) unlikely to play any part.
Schmidt should welcome Marvin Pieringer back into the side after suspension, with the forward keen to add to his six goal involvements against the River Islanders.
Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:
Zetterer; Stark, Veljkovic, Jung; Weiser, Stage, Lynen, Kohn; Schmid, Grull; Ducksch
Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Traore, Mainka, Siersleben, Fohrenbach; Dorsch, Schoppner; Conteh, Wanner, Kratzig; Pieringer
We say: Werder Bremen 2-0 Heidenheim
Although Die Werderaner have lost their last three matches against Heidenheim, the turnaround in results at the Weserstadion and the away side's miserable results should see Bremen emerge victorious at the third-bottom club's expense.
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