Heidenheim vs FC Cologne Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 German Bundesliga
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Heidenheim are aiming to cap off a memorable maiden Bundesliga campaign on a winning note, relegating 17th-placed FC Cologne in process.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 18th May 2024, UK – 14:30 / US EST – 09:30 / US PST – 07:30
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Sky Sports schedule / US – ESPN
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Sky Go / US – ESPN+
HEIDENHEIM PREVIEW: HOSTS HOPING TO END BRILLIANT FIRST BUNDESLIGA SEASON ON A HIGH NOTE
It’s fair to say that Heidenheim was seen as favourites to drop straight back down by most following their pulsating promotion last season on a final day full of drama, ending with them pipping fallen giants Hamburg to the title. But they have defied the doubters and not only survived at the first time of asking, but done so comfortably following a terrific campaign.
Heidenheim have not lost in each of their last three league games, winning one and drawing two. Their last match saw them frustrate Freiburg in Christian Streich’s final home game in charge, holding them to a 1-1 draw following a Kevin Sessa equaliser.
FC COLOGNE PREVIEW: ONLY THREE POINTS GIVES SCHULTZ’S MEN ANY CHANCE OF AVOIDING THE DROP
FC Cologne are staring the Bundesliga trap door firmly in the face and only a last day miracle would see them avoid dropping into the second tier of German football. Currently rooted inside the automatic relegation places, they need to not only win here, but hope that Union Berlin lose by a big enough margin to swing the goal difference gap between the two clubs.
However, one thing you can’t take away from FC Cologne is that they aren’t going down without a fight. After draws against both Mainz and Freiburg, they were victorious in a 3-2 thriller against Union. Trailing by two goals to one late in the game, a Steffen Tigges equaliser was followed up by a dramatic stoppage time winner by Damion Downs, which takes their fight into this final round of fixtures.
HEIDENHEIM TEAM NEWS: KLEINDIENST RETURNS TO THE FOLD AND SHOULD REPLACE PIERINGER
With Thomas Keller, Elidon Qenaj and Marnon-Thomas Busch all still out for Heidenheim, don’t expect them to deviate to much from a starting line-up that has proven hugely successful in the top flight. Jan-Niklas Beste has been a star out wide and Tim Kleindienst has led the line superbly. Credit must also go to their backline, who have come through all the tough challenges they have faced across the campaign.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Muller; Traore, Mainka, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Schoppner, Maloney; Dinkci, Sessa, Beste; Kleindienst
UNAVAILABLE: Keller (Injured), Qenaj (Injured), Busch (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
FC COLOGNE TEAM NEWS: ILLNESS AND SUSPENSIONS HIT THE VISITING CAMP AT THE WORST TIME
FC Cologne will likely match up to Heidenheim formation wise, especially with the doubts surrounding a few of their players. Both Dejan Ljubicic and Leart Paqarada are struggling with illness, whilst left-back Max Finkgrafe has an ankle issue. Elsewhere, Denis Huseinbasic and Benno Schmitz are each suspended.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Schwabe; Thielmann, Hubers, Chabot, Heintz; Martel, Christensen; Alidou, Uth, Kainz; Tigges
UNAVAILABLE: Huseinbasic (Suspended), Kilian (Injured), Schmitz (Suspended), Selke (Injured), Waldschmidt (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Finkgrafe (Injured), Ljubicic (Illness), Paqarada (Illness)
HEIDENHEIM VS FC COLOGNE PREDICTION
It’s celebration time for Heidenheim and they could well benefit from playing a desperate opponent who not only need to win, but must do so by a significant margin for the sake of their goal difference. This means FC Cologne have no choice but to deploy an extremely attacking style of play and push men forward at every opportunity. Now this may increase their offensive threat, but it will leave them hugely exposed at the opposition end of the field and a real strength of Heidenheim’s this season has been their ability to play on the counter-attack. With that in mind, it’s well worth backing both teams to score in this contest, as well as there being over 2.5 goals.
HEIDENHEIM VS FC COLOGNE TIP: OVER 2.5 GOALS & BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
