Strugglers go head to head for survival

Heidenheim welcome Bochum on Friday evening for a crucial clash at the bottom end of the Bundesliga. The visitors will be the first team to be relegated this season if they suffer a defeat.

Heidenheim

Heidenheim secured a sensational win on the road against VfB Stuttgart last time out, and they will look to pick up three points for the second successive Friday as they host fellow strugglers Bochum.

Mathias Honsak’s fantastic 89th-minute winner took Frank Schmidt’s side to 25 points, however, they still sit five points adrift of Hoffenheim in 15th. Another win this weekend, however, would place the pressure firmly on Die Kreichgauer in front regarding a potential late slip into the relegation playoff spot. 

On the other hand, if Heidenheim were to drop points this weekend and both St. Pauli and Hoffenheim win, they would be condemned to a guaranteed bottom-three finish. 

Last Friday left Schmidt with plenty of positives, however, with his side picking up their first clean sheet in four matches.

Team News

Schmidt carries no fresh injury concerns into this weekend, however, midfielder Niklas Dorsch is suspended and will miss Friday’s clash.

VfL Bochum

Dieter Hecking’s Bochum go into Friday with one target in mind: three points. 

Currently sitting at the bottom of the Bundesliga, a win would take Bochum above Holstein Kiel and into 17th, just a single point behind Friday’s opponents, Heidenheim. While avoiding defeat is vital, a win this weekend could possibly be the only feasible route towards safety rather than simply delaying the inevitable.

Last time out, Hecking’s men were unfortunate not to take all three points against Union Berlin. The 1-1 draw on home soil meant that Bochum have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine Bundesliga outings, a period in which they have leaked 14 goals.

Winless in six, the form table is more than against Bochum going into the weekend; however, a win this weekend would more than keep the idea of a great escape alive. 

Team News

Koji Miyoshi is the only confirmed absentee for Bochum this weekend, while Ibrahima Sissoko will return to the fold after missing the draw with Union through suspension.