Heidenheim vs Chelsea: Match Preview & predictions
Heidenheim vs Chelsea: Match Preview & predictions. Chelsea and Heidenheim are both looking to maintain their perfect records in the league phase of the Conference League on Thursday evening, when they meet in Germany.
Enzo Maresca‘s side have been in perfect form in Europe thus far, scoring 16 goals in their three league phase encounters. An emphatic victory over Armenian side FC Noah, they maintained their top spot after matchday 3.
The Blues’ domestic form has been patchier over recent weeks, but a 2-1 victory over Leicester City at the weekend means they remain third in the Premier League table.
Chelsea’s starting XI will be handed a valuable rest midweek, as the other players are gifted the chance to shine in southern Germany.
Heidenheim on the other hand were shock qualifiers for the Conference League, securing an eighth-placed Bundesliga finish in their maiden campaign in the competition.
The top flight has proven too tough to handle at times this term, but domestic negativity hasn’t seeped into their European performances following three wins from three games in the league phase.
Below, is how we preview the first ever meeting between Heidenheim and Chelsea.
What time does Heidenheim vs Chelsea kick-off?
Location: Heidenheim, Germany
Stadium: Voith-Arena
Date: Thursday 28 November
Kick-off Time: 17:45 GMT / 18:45 WAT / 12:45 ET / 09:45 PT
Referee: Serdar Gozubuyuk (NED)
VAR: Rob Dieperink (NED)
Heidenheim vs Chelsea H2H Record
This is the first competitive fixture between Heidenheim and Chelsea.
Heidenheim team news:
Legendary Heidenheim manager Frank Schmidt, who has been in the dugout since 2007, will have to produce a tactical master plan inorder to stifle a star-studded Chelsea XI on Thursday. However, he would have to do so without the club’s top Bundesliga scorer Marvin Pieringer, after he suffered an Achilles injury in Saturday’s 5-2 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen.
Forward Denis Thomalla, striker Stefan Schimmer and midfielder Thomas Leon Keller are all ineligible to feature after not being named in Heidenheim’s Conference League squad. Julian Niehues is sidelined with a knee problem, while Luka Janes and Marnon-Thomas Busch could miss out through injury.
Heidenheim predicted lineup vs Chelsea
Heidenheim (4-3-3): Muller; Traore, Mainka, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Dorsch, Maloney, Schoppner; Beck, Breunig, Honsak.
Chelsea team news:
Chelsea could well be without several first-teamers for their trip to Germany, with Pedro Neto a potential absentee on the wing. The Portuguese forward picked up a knock over the international break and missed Saturday’s win over Leicester.
Chelsea’s other issues come at right-back, with the Blues sweating on the fitness of Reece James after he suffered another injury setback recently. Malo Gusto is also a doubt after missing the weekend due to illness.
It is expected that Maresca would make sweeping changes to his starting XI on Thursday, as he has done in previous Conference League fixtures, but Chelsea will still be able to field a remarkable lineup.
The likes of Christopher Nkunku, Mykhailo Mudryk, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Axel Disasi are among those likely to come into the team.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Heidenheim
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Disasi, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Veiga; Dewsbury-Hall, Casadei; George, Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku.
Heidenheim vs Chelsea score prediction:
Chelsea have blitzed through their Conference League campaign thus far and should have no issues dispatching of Heidenheim midweek. The Bundesliga side showed their strengths and weaknesses on Saturday, surrendering a two-goal lead to lose 5-2 at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen.
Schmidt is without his star centre-forward Pieringer, something he blamed the defeat at the BayArena on and Heidenheim will struggle to compete with a refreshed and superior Chelsea XI.
The Blues have conceded three in meetings with Gent and Panathinaikos this term and could allow a few opportunities at the Voith-Arena, but they boast more than enough firepower to win comfortably on this one.
Prediction: Heidenheim 0-4 Chelsea
