Bayer Leverkusen vs Heidenheim Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Defending champions Bayer Leverkusen have struggled at the start of this season as they drift to fourth in the Bundesliga. They welcome a Heidenheim side that continually punch above their weight to the BayArena this weekend.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 23rd November, 2024: UK – 2:30pm / US ET – 9:30am / US PT – 6:30am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Some matches will be televised on ESPN channels so it is worth checking their schedules
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – ESPN+
Bayer Leverkusen Preview: Lacklustre Leverkusen
After one of the best seasons by any club in the history of the game, it was always expected to be a little underwhelming for Bayer Leverkusen this time around and that has very much been the case for Xabi Alonso’s side as they currently sit inside the top four and the UEFA Champions League spots in the Bundesliga just on goal difference.
Leverkusen have collected just 17 points from their opening ten matches with just eight victories inside 90 minutes in their 17 games across all competitions so far this season and two of those wins have come against lower league sides in the DFB-Pokal. They have lacked concentration at the back whilst becoming a bit predictable in attack.
Heidenheim Preview: Punching above their weight
Heidenheim gained promotion to the top-flight of German football for the first time ever in the 2022/23 campaign. They then managed to finish eighth and qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League last season and, despite such a small squad and a small budget, they have managed to balance domestic and European commitments at the start of this season.
Heidenheim come into this one on the back of a 3-1 defeat at home to Wolfsburg at the Voith-Arena a couple of weeks ago. The visitors are now winless in their last five matches in the Bundesliga but they have been much better in Europe with three wins out of three in the league phase of the UEFA Europa Conference League against Olimpija Ljubljana, Pafos and Heart of Midlothian.
Bayer Leverkusen Team News: Defensive issues
Xabi Alonso has been guilty of performance level dipping after making too many changes to the eleven and they are expected to make a few changes once again.
The home team are dealing with defensive injury issues for this one such as Nordi Mukiele and Edmund Tapsoba as well as Jeanuel Belocian and Algeria international Amine Adli.
Over the international break, Nigeria international Victor Boniface picked up an injury and is now also expected to be sidelined for a few weeks with Patrik Schick set for a run in the side.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Hradecky; Arthur, Tah, Piero Hincapie; Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Alex Grimaldo; Hofmann, Wirtz; Schick
Unavailable: Mukiele (Injured), Tapsoba (Injured), Belocian (Injured), Adli (Injured), Boniface (Injured)
Questionable:
Heidenheim Team News: No Wanner
Former Bayern Munich midfielder Paul Wanner is unavailable for this one due to a back injury alongside a few other first-teamers like Marnon Busch.
As well as both Busch and Wanner, Heidenheim are dealing with key men like Luka Janes and Thomas Keller, whilst American midfielder Lennard Maloney is a doubt.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Muller; Traore, Mainka, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Dorsch, Schoppner; Scienza, Breunig, Honsak; Pieringer
Unavailable: Janes (Injured), Keller (Injured), Busch (Injured), Wanner (Injured)
Questionable: Maloney (Injured)
Bayer Leverkusen vs Heidenheim Prediction
Bayer Leverkusen were free scoring last season and racked up big wins against pretty much every side but this time around they appear to be a side searching for identity with further rumours that Xabi Alonso may depart the club this summer. They take on a Heidenheim that can frustrate and are difficult to beat so whilst Leverkusen should surely still come out on top, it is unlikely to be overly convincing.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Heidenheim Tip: Bayer Leverkusen to win & under 3.5 goals