Table-toppers Bayer Leverkusen welcome newly-promoted Heidenheim to the BayArena in the Bundesliga on Sunday.

Another comfortable win in Europe in midweek has continued the hosts' phenomenal start under Xabi Alonso.

Match preview

That 4-0 thrashing of Swedish champions Hacken saw Leverkusen get their European campaign off to a flyer on Thursday.

Manager Alonso continues to receive rave reviews for the job he is doing with Die Schwarzroten, considering where they were when he took over.

The Spaniard has not even been in the job for 12 months, but after coming in while Leverkusen were in the relegation zone in October last season, he has now turned them into potential title contenders.

The club nailed Alonso down to a three-year contract in the summer, but should he keep these performances up, it will not be long before Europe's elite come knocking, particularly his former club Real Madrid who may have a job vacancy next year.

Leverkusen's performance at the Allianz Arena last Friday brought Alonso's team even more into the limelight.

Alex Grimaldo's fantastic free-kick was the pick of the goals in the 2-2 draw, but the moment of the match was Exequiel Palacios's 94th-minute equaliser.

That is the only match Leverkusen have not won in all competitions so far, and given it will likely be the toughest one they will have all season, to take a point is a wonderful result.

Given their fine form, Alonso's men unsurprisingly sit top of the Bundesliga, and they have a kind run of games on paper to come.

Before October's international break, Leverkusen face Heidenheim, as well as Koln and Mainz, who have both started poorly.

Heidenheim may provide the toughest test out of those three games though, despite their minimal top-flight experience.

Manager Frank Schmidt broke a special record when taking his place in the dugout last weekend too.

After completing a 16th year as Heidenheim manager, Schmidt broke the record of the longest-serving manager of a single professional club in German football history.

Schmidt celebrated reaching the milestone by leading his side to a 4-2 win over Werder Bremen - the club's first in the top flight.

Despite surrendering a 2-0 lead, Heidenheim roared back with another two goals to taste Bundesliga success for the first time.

After losing their first two games of the season, worries may have crept in about whether this was a step too high for the club, but an incredible draw at Borussia Dortmund before the Bremen win has seemingly breathed fresh life into Heidenheim.

Their next three Bundesliga outings match them up against sides in European competitions though, in the form of Leverkusen, Union Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Schmidt has led Heidenheim to a win over Leverkusen before though, in the DFB-Pokal in 2019, when they were a 2. Bundesliga club.

Team News

Alonso rang the changes in midweek, but they were not visibly weakened as they still ran out comfortable winners.

Matej Kovar made his debut in goal after joining from Manchester United, but he is still likely to be replaced by first-choice Lukas Hradecky.

Josip Stanisic, Nathan Tella and Amine Adli were some of the other players given an opportunity from the start in Europe, and a goal for the latter means he could retain his place.

Jeremie Frimpong and Jonas Hofmann both dropped to the bench, but they can expect to retake their places in the starting XI here.

Alonso will remain without Noah Mbamba and Timothy Fosu-Mensah through knee injuries, as well as Patrik Schick, who has a groin strain, and Arthur, who is recovering from an Achilles problem.

Elidon Qenaj is the only injury concern for Schmidt heading into this away trip.

Striker Tim Kleindienst scored and registered two assists in the 4-2 last weekend, taking his tally to six goal contributions in five matches already this season.

Nikola Dovedan rejoined the club this summer after four years away, and he scored in the win over Leverkusen in 2019, but he may have to settle for a place on the bench here.

Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Frimpong, Tah, Tapsoba, Grimaldo; Palacios, Xhaka, Wirtz; Hofmann, Adli, Boniface

Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Traore, Mainka, Siersleben, Fohrenbach; Maloney, Theuerkauf, Pieringer; Dinkci, Kleindienst, Beste

We say: Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 Heidenheim

Leverkusen have already beaten RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach, as well as holding Bayern to a draw at the Allianz, so another three points will be the order of the day here against newly-promoted opposition.

Heidenheim have scored eight in their last three games though, including two away at Dortmund, so Leverkusen can not take them lightly.


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