Heidenheim vs Chelsea. The premiership supremacy
HEIDENHEIM VS. CHELSEA
Both teams have a very good continental records this season, Heidenheim and Chelsea will lock horns at Voith-Arena for a Conference League clash on Thursday evening, 28/11/2024.
Heidenheim lost to their German champions in the Bundesliga, whilst Chelsea are in super start to the Premier League campaign under their forward-thinking management.
Heidenheim, the German minnows are now facing the reality of two-time European champions Chelsea arriving at Voith-Arena in European competition on Thursday evening.
28/11/2024.
Despite their inexperience on the continental stage, Heidenheim have made a flawless start to their 2024-25 Conference League adventure, recording three straight wins over NK Olimpija Ljubljana, Pafos FC and Scottish outfit Hearts, meaning that the hosts sit sixth in the 36-team league table.
An extraordinary eighth-placed finish in the Bundesliga last season qualified Heidenheim for the Conference League, although Schmidt's troops are enduring a trickier domestic campaign this time around, with Heidenheim currently occupying 15th spot in the top-flight standings, just two points above newly-promoted St Pauli in the relegation-playoff zone.
Thursday's hosts returned from the November international break to face a daunting away trip at the home of the Bundesliga holders on Saturday evening, when despite the visitors racing into a two-goal lead courtesy of strikes from Niklas Dorsch and Mathias Honsak, Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen ended up as convincing 5-2 victors.
Excluding a perfect Conference League start, Heidenheim's long-term form is of considerable concern ahead of Chelsea's high-profile form.
Team News
HEIDENHEIM suffered a significant injury blow during their loss at Bayer Leverkusen on the weekend, with leading goalscorer Marvin Pieringer now sidelined until early February due to an Achilles tendon issue.
The four-goal forward joins long-term absentee Luka Jens in the medical room, with the 20-year-old yet to feature in a competitive sense this season because of a shoulder injury.
Heidenheim have a number of other players who have not kicked a ball so far because of their respective fitness problems, including midfielders Thomas Leon Keller and Julian Niehues.
CHELSEA
Pedro Neto is struggling to be fit for Thursday's trip to Germany, with the Chelsea winger suffering a minor knock whilst on Portugal duty earlier this month.
Reece James has recently suffered another hamstring strain and Chelsea are now waiting nervously for the results of a scan on the area, meaning that the Englishman faces a further spell on the Stamford Bridge sidelines.
Maresca's options at right-back could be reduced even further based on the availability of Malo Gusto, who sat out of the Leicester win due to illness.
With a packed schedule planned between now and the New Year, expect Chelsea to make their usual Conference League changes, resulting in the likes of Tosin Adarabioyo, Axel Disasi and Renato Veiga earning starts.
HEIDENHEIM possible lineup:
Muller; Traore, Manika, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Dorsch, Maloney, Schoppner; Conteh, Honsak, Wanner
CHELSEA
possible lineup:
Jorgensen; Disasi, Badiashile, Adarabioyo, Veiga; Caicedo, George, Nkunku, Felix, Mudryk; Guiu
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