Date: 31/2/24
Kick-off Time: 16:30 pm
Location: MHP Arena
Heidenheim are etching ever closer to the finishing line this season, as they look to record their highest ever club finish in their history. Their debut season has brought them great success and they’ve certainly held their own against some of the more established teams in the division. The underdog outfit, travel to face a Stuttgart side who are closing in on the Champions League places towards the latter stages of the Bundesliga.
The home side Stuttgart, were at one point leading the Bundesliga early doors but have settled for a very respectable campaign in which they are on course to enter the Champions League next season. Stuttgart are currently third in the Bundesliga after 26 games played and this is a stark contrast in comparison to their previous league campaign.
The hosts narrowly avoided relegation after a few seasons of struggle once again last season. The Schwabenmetropole were placed 16th last season and managed to avoid relegation via the relegation play-offs that season. Since the end point of last season, they have used that momentum to carry them forward and if they were to see out Champions League qualification, it would mark a return to European elite for the first time since the 2009/2010 season.
VFB Stuttgart are seven points clear of RB Leipzig with both having played the same number of games. The home side have accumulated 56 points from 78 points that have been played – this averages at 2.15 points per game. There is still opportunity to chase down second-place Bayern Munich, who are only four points clear of Stuttgart. Bayer Leverkusen thwarted them in the DFB Pokal with an injury time winner from Jonathan Tah.
Stuttgart have been one of the more proficient sides in front of goal which has aided their success. They are currently boasting the third best attack in the league behind Bayern Munich and league leaders Bayer Leverkusen. 60 goals scored in 26 games gives them a healthy average of 2.3 goals scored. Defensively they’ve conceded 1.19 goals per game – having conceded 31 goals in 26 games.
The reverse fixture between these two sides ended in a famous 2-0 win for Heidenheim. Despite conceding 70% possession to their opponents, Heidenheim battled for the victory thanks to goals from Jan Schnopper and Tim Kleindienst. VFB Stuttgart have won three from the last five registered fixtures against Heidenheim, although they’ve only met once in the top flight of German football which was the previous fixture earlier this season.
Heidenheim are currently midtable and several places above their probable predicted finish in the league. The former second tier outfit are currently 11th in the league after 26 games and a win over Stuttgart could move a place above Werder Bremen. The visitors are ten points clear of a potential relegation play-off with a possible 24 points still to play for.
The away side have obtained 29 points from a possible 26 games played – averaging 1.1 points per game. Respectively they’ve averaged 1.3 goals per game through scoring 35 in 26 played. Defensively they are worse off, although there’s no serious effect on their league position. Heidenheim have conceded 44 goals in the Bundesliga – conceding on average 1.7 goals per game.
