FC Heidenheim - FC Ingolstadt 04

Ingolstadt to nick this crucial clash at Voith Arena

TEAM NEWS

Heidenheim will be without the injured Marnon Busch, Oliver Steurer, Arne Feick, Kolja Pusch and Timo Beermann, but they have an otherwise full squad available for the clash against Ingolstadt.

Ingolstadt have a fully fit squad available, with the exception of Dario Lezcano, who has been ruled out for the next few weeks.

Heidenheim

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Marnon Busch, Oliver Steurer (both knee); Timo Beermann (calf), Arne Feick (ankle), Kolja Pusch (hip)

Ingolstadt

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Dario Lezcano (broken nose)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN 

Frank Schmidt’s Heidenheim crashed to two damaging away defeats in their last two outings. After a 3-2 loss at Dresden three weeks ago, the team were easily swept aside by third-placed Holstein Kiel before the international break, losing 2-1. Worryingly for Heidenheim, they have picked up only one win in their last six league fixtures. The side remain 14^thin the table, only one point above the drop zone.

Ingolstadt are pushing for the promotion playoff place. They are currently seven points and three places behind Holstein Kiel, who are occupying that coveted spot, after inflicting a 4-2 win on lowly Dresden two weeks ago. Stefan Leitl’s team have had a mixed bag of results lately, but the home win against Dresden has put them back on track. The Schanzer have won five on the road in the 2. Bundesliga this season.

With Ingolstadt not giving up on place three, the Schanzer will be desperate to add another three points to their tally at the weekend. I’ll be backing an Ingolstadt victory this Saturday.

SECOND PREDICTION: ODD/EVEN – ODD 

All eight fixtures between Heidenheim and Ingolstadt in all competitions have finished with odd goals. With that in mind, have a punt on odd goals to be scored at the Voith Arena again.

HEAD TO HEAD

These teams have only met once in Heidenheim in the 2. Bundesliga, in a close game which was won by Ingolstadt 1-0. Back in October, the reverse fixture ended in a 3-0 win for Ingolstadt too.