Both teams will be aiming to bounce back from defeat when Heidenheim host Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Sunday.

Heidenheim have lost three successive matches, while Stuttgart saw their winning streak come to an end against Hoffenheim.

Match preview

Heidenheim's first ever season competing in the Bundesliga was always likely to be one containing plenty of tough moments, but collecting seven points from their opening six games suggested they may be able to stay clear of a relegation battle.

However, consecutive defeats to Eintracht Frankfurt, Augsburg and Borussia Monchengladbach have seen them edge closer to the bottom three, which is where they will be aiming to avoid finishing to ensure their stay in the top flight is not a brief one.

Eren Dinkci had continued Heidenheim's streak of scoring in every match since losing 2-0 to Wolfsburg on the opening day of the season when levelling the scoreline against Gladbach, but Jonas Fohrenbach's own goal proved enough to hand the hosts all three points on the day.

Frank Schmidt's side were beaten at Borussia Park once again on Tuesday when falling to a 3-1 defeat to Gladbach in the DFB-Pokal, but they will not concern themselves about a lack of progress in the cup should they secure survival come the end of the campaign.

Stuttgart, on the other hand, secured their place in the third round of the DFB-Pokal by inflicting an 11th consecutive defeat on Union Berlin on Tuesday. Deniz Undav's strike on the stroke of half time proved enough to secure a 1-0 victory.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion had also scored against Hoffenheim last weekend having replaced the injured Serhou Guirassy from the outset, but Sebastian Hoeness's side fell to only their second loss of the season against their manager's former club.

Hoffenheim had led 2-0 at the break courtesy of goals from Grischa Promel and Wout Weghorst, before restoring their two-goal advantage after Chris Fuhrich had pulled one back. Undav's goal ultimately proved to be in vein, but Stuttgart's fall in the table was only a short one to third courtesy of Borussia Dortmund dropping points against Frankfurt the following day.

With Guirassy likely to be absent until after the upcoming international break due to a hamstring injury, Hoeness will be hoping to see Undav continue his goalscoring streak, as they attempt to return to winning ways in the league against their newly promoted opponents.

Team News

Heidenheim will be without Elidon Qenaj and Thomas Keller due to knee injuries, but otherwise Schmidt appears to have a fully fit squad at his disposal.

Marvin Pieringer will be hoping to start in attack after being left on the bench in recent league outings, but Schmidt is unlikely to make too many changes having seen his side perform well for the most part against Gladbach last weekend.

Stuttgart, meanwhile, will travel without Fabian Bredlow due to a hip issue, while Guirassy remains sidelined as mentioned.

Undav will continue to deputise in the Guinea forward's absence, but they are clearly huge boots to fill given that Guirassy bagged 14 goals in eight league games prior to sustaining a hamstring injury against Union Berlin.

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

Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Stenzel, Anton, Zagadou, Ito; Karazor, Stiller; Silas, Milot, Fuhrich; Undav

We say: Heidenheim 1-2 Stuttgart

Heidenheim have proven that they can score goals at this level, but they are yet to convince defensively, and even without Guirassy we can envisage Stuttgart exploiting them.

Undav has impressed despite receiving limited game time since signing for Hoeness's side, and with Silas and Fuhrich flanking him, we expect the visitors to have enough quality to return to winning ways in the Bundesliga.

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