FC Heidenheim - Holstein Kiel

Heidenheim to see off Holstein Kiel

TEAM NEWS

Heidenheim will be without the injured captain Marc Schnatterer, Sebastian Greisbeck and Timo Beermann who are all injured while Nicolai Dovedan have been sidelined with suspension.

Captain David Kinsombi, Masaya Okugawa and Aaron Seydel continue to be out for Holstein Kiel.

Heidenheim

Suspended: Nikolai Dovedan

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Marc Schnatterer (foot), Sebastian Griesbeck (ankle joint), Timo Beermann (thigh)

Holstein Kiel

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Aaron Seydel (heel), Masaya Okugawa (pulled muscle), David Kinsombi (shinbone)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Heidenheim have responded expertly well from their 5-1 home defeat to Paderborn. Since then Frank Schmid’s side have won three and drawn one, beating both bottom teams Sandhausen and Duisburg before drawing at weak Ingolstadt but won the last match against Bielefeld 2-1 before the winter-break. Heidenheim have been in excellent shape in recent month, winning six of their last eleven games in the league, drawing four and losing only one.

Holstein Kiel have recovered well from a bad September and October, moving back into the top six of late. Before beating Sandhausen 2-1 just after last international break, Tim Walter’s men had taken ten points from a possible 27 in the league. Since then, the Storcks have beaten Sandhausen, 2-1, Duisburg 4-0, Dresden 2-0 and leaders Hamburg 3-1. Meanwhile, no side in Germany’s second tier have beaten Hamburg twice this season so far.

Heidenhieim are slowly but surely heading in the right direction after a slow start to their season. I can see them recoreding their sixth home league win of the campaign against a very strong side from Kiel.

SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – HIGH

Heidenheim have score two or more goals in three of their last four league outings while Holstein Kiel netted three in their victory at Holstein-Stadium in their last league encounter. There were plenty of goals between the pair at Voith-Arena in recent matches and I can see this continue here.

HEAD TO HEAD

There have only been only league meeting between the pair at Voith Arena with Holstein Kiel had won 5-3 last season. The first match this season finished with a 1-1 draw.