RB Leipzig vs. Heidenheim preview: Visitors looking for positive response to European exit

Bulinews

·22 February 2025

RB Leipzig vs. Heidenheim preview: Visitors looking for positive response to European exit

RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig will enter Sunday’s contest in fifth position after winning 10, drawing seven and losing five of their 22 league games this season. They have been frustrated by a flurry of recent draws, having seen four of their last five league games finish all square. Die Roten Bullen played out draws with Bochum, Bayer Leverkusen and Union Berlin, before they returned to winning ways with a 2-0 home win over St Pauli. However, they were unable to pick up another win in last Friday’s away meeting with Augsburg, although they did at least record a third consecutive clean sheet in the goalless affair.

Having failed to win any of their last five top-flight away games, Marco Rose’s side will be looking forward to playing in the familiar surroundings of the Red Bull Arena, where they have won three of their previous four league matches (D1). They will hope home advantage can help them maintain their 100% record in Bundesliga meetings with Heidenheim, after winning each of their previous three top-flight encounters, including a 1-0 victory in October’s reverse fixture.

OneFootball Videos

Team News

Xaver Schlager and Antonio Nusa are ruled out with knee problems, while Benjamin Henrichs, Assan Ouédraogo and Yussuf Poulsen are also on Leipzig’s injury list.

Heidenheim

Heidenheim’s European journey came to an end in Thursday’s knockout round playoff clash against FC Copenhagen. Frank Schmidt’s side went into the home leg with a narrow advantage after they recorded a 2-1 victory in Denmark. However, Copenhagen turned the tie in their favour with goals either side of half-time, before Léo Scienza found the net to level the aggregate scoreline at three goals apiece. Unfortunately for the Bundesliga representatives, Rodrigo Huescas scored the decisive goal in stoppage time to send Copenhagen into the last 16 at Heidenheim’s expense.

While they would have been disappointed with their European exit, it could prove to be a blessing in disguise given the fact they have struggled to balance their domestic and Conference League commitments this season. In fact, Heidenheim are languishing in the relegation playoff spot and seven points adrift from safety after losing each of their last five Bundesliga matches.

Heidenhiem will have their work cut out to take anything from Sunday’s fixture, having lost seven of their previous eight Bundesliga away matches (D1). As a result of the poor record, the visitors will head to the Red Bull Arena with hopes of winning their first away league game since beating Mainz 2-0 in September.