1.FC Heidenheim - Erzgebirge Aue

Heidenheim eager to overcome Aue and use their home advantage

TEAM NEWS

Heidenheim will have all their key players available for this season again, but they have strengthened the team with several players who will act as replacements if the first XI succumb to injury: Goalkeeper Matthias Kobbing (Hoffenheim), defender Marnon Busch (Werder Bremen), midfielder Kolja Pusch (Jahn Regensburg), midfielder Maximilian Thiel (Union Berlin), forward Nikola Dovedan (Altach) and forward Robert Glatzel (Kaiserslautern) have all joined the club.

Aue were one of the newly-promoted teams last season and their main aim will be to avoid the drop to the third tier once again. Two important players have left the club, but Aue have brought in several replacements, with new signings including defender Nicolai Rapp (Hoffenheim), defender Malcolm Cacutalua (Bielefeld), midfielder Tobias Kempe (Karlsruher SC), defender Moise Ngwisani (Bochum), midfielder Dominik Wydra (Bochum), midfielder John-Patrick Strauss (RB Leipzig), midfielder Arianit Ferati (Hamburg) and Michael Maria (Grossaspach).

Heidenheim

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Denis Thomalla (illness)

Aue

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Nicky Adler (groin)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Heidenheim were underestimated by most of their opponents last season and they ended up in an impressive sixth position. However, they are now a lot better known and the other clubs will be aware of how to approach them. This could become a problem – especially if Heidenheim start the season as badly as they ended the last, and this campaign might be a lot harder for them as a result. However, if coach Frank Schmidt excels at his decision-making in the same way as he did last season, then the team have the potential to end up in a safe place in the middle of the table.

Aue’s team spirit and willingness to fight saved the club last season, but more than anything else, they will need to improve up front this time round. The team are in desperate need of more goals if they do not want to get into trouble from the start. However, they have no real goalgetter, but with Pascal Kopke, Dimitrij Nazarov, Adrianit Ferati and Mario Kvesic there are some good and quality strikers in the squad. Nevertheless, the team tend to waste too many of their chances, but if they can solve this problem, then they might be able to play in 2.Bundesliga again next season.

Heidenheim had a quiet and good pre-season and they worked hard to improve their style of play from last season. However, Aue are not in the best situation after losing their head coach and are therefore ill-prepared, having to adjust to a new coach and his playing style. I therefore think that Heidenheim will leave the pitch victorious.

SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – HIGH (OVER 2.5 GOALS)

Both teams have met each other twice so far in 2.Bundesliga, with one game seeing more and one game under 2.5 goals. However, I expect an open game here, with both teams looking for goals.

HEAD TO HEAD

Heidenheim’s overall home record against Aue is one win and two draws, with the team having scored three and conceded two goals.