Matchday in focus: 1. FC Heidenheim | OneFootball

Heidenheim play an intensive style of football, marked by robustness, hard running and quick transitions. The promoted side have enjoyed an impressive season to date.

Tactics

Frank Schmidt, who has coached 1. FC Heidenheim since 2007, usually sets his team up in a trusted 4-2-3-1 formation. They often allow the opponents to have the ball so that they can then quickly counter after gaining possession. “We know what Heidenheim can do and know their strengths,” explained Eintracht head coach Dino Toppmöller. “They’re a team who are very good in transition, very dangerous from set pieces, who play football and defend passionately.” The promoted team have had an impressive debut campaign in the German top flight so far, sitting in 10th place with 28 points.

Absentees

Heidenheim are without Thomas Keller and Elidon Qenaj, while Jan-Niklas Beste and Lennard Maloney are doubtful.

For Eintracht, there’s no Sasa Kalajdzic, Nacho Ferri or Sebastian Rode. Hugo Larsson is set to return to the squad, but fellow midfielder Ellyes Skhiri is a doubt due to back problems.

One to watch: Eren Dinkci

With seven goals in his first season with Heidenheim, Eren Dinkci is the team’s joint top scorer. The 22-year-old right-winger, who’s on loan from SV Werder Bremen, is enjoying his most prolific campaign so far at senior level. The German of Turkish heritage possesses pace as well as impressive dribbling ability, and is a key component Heidenheim’s attacking play. Apart from missing one game due to suspension, Dinkci has started every Bundesliga match this term.

Stats and runs

Heidenheim and Eintracht have met competitively just twice before: in the first half of this Bundesliga season and in the last 16 of the 2017/18 DFB Cup. The Eagles won both times – a third defeat in a row would be Heidenheim’s longest current losing run against a team from the three German professional leagues.