In a match that could have a significant impact on the relegation battle and race for European football, Heidenheim will welcome Stuttgart to Voith-Arena on Sunday in their 14th Bundesliga match of their campaign. The hosts are third last in 16th place with 10 points and were beaten 4-2 by leaders Bayern Munich last time out in the league on December 7, whereas the visitors are eighth with 20 points from 13 games and narrowly defeated Union Berlin 3-2 on December 6. © Imago Heidenheim started the season in strong fashion, winning their first five games, but they now occupy the division's relegation playoff spot and have won just four times in 17 matches, losing each of their last six in all competitions.
This period of defeats also includes a 3-1 loss against Istanbul Basaksehir in the Conference League on Thursday, a fixture in which they faced four big chances and conceded twice in the first 18 minutes. Manager Frank Schmidt admitted that his side were outclassed, telling reporters: "We were shown off from the first to the last second, by an opponent who punished our mistakes from the beginning." Schmidt's team have conceded 21 goals in their six most recent fixtures while scoring six times, and they have lost seven and drawn one of their past eight Bundesliga outings.
Heidenheim's record at home is poor considering they are winless in their last five at Voith-Arena, scoring just once and conceding on 10 occasions while succumbing to defeat four times. © Imago Meanwhile, .