MX23RW : Wednesday, November 6 00:42:04| >> :120:8418:8418:
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Hearts logo
Conference League | League Stage
Nov 7, 2024 at 8pm UK
Tynecastle Park
Heidenheim

Hearts
vs.
Heidenheim

Preview: Hearts vs. Heidenheim - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Conference League clash between Hearts and Heidenheim, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Scottish side Hearts will hope to build momentum by winning their second consecutive game when they host German team Heidenheim in their third Conference League game of 2024-25 at Tynecastle Park on Thursday.

Hearts are sixth in the Conference League table with six points from a possible six and beat Omonia Nicosia 2-0 on October 24, while the visitors are ninth with six points from six and beat Pafos FC 1-0 on October 24.


Match preview

Frank Schmidt of FC Heidenheim takes a selfie for a fan before his side's match against Borussia Monchengladbach, on October 19, 2024© Imago

The Scottish side have had a poor season so far given they are second last in 11th place in the Scottish Premiership with nine points from 12 matches, though they are only three points from automatic safety.

Boss Neil Critchley took charge of the club in the middle of October after Steven Naismith was sacked when he failed to pick up a single win in his side's first six league outings.

Since Critchley's appointment, the Scottish club have won three, drawn one and lost one of their five matches under the Englishman, scoring 10 goals and conceding four times.

Hearts were leading 2-0 against Omonia Nicosia after just 23 minutes thanks to goals from Alan Forrest and Blair Spittal, and the team were deserving winners given their opponents failed to create a single big chance.

The hosts have won two, drawn one and lost one of their four most recent home games, and have also won three of their last four Conference League matches at Tynecastle Park.

Hearts head coach Neil Critchley during the William Hill SPFL Premiership match on October 19, 2024© Imago

As for Heidenheim, while they began their league campaign in the Bundesliga with two wins, they have lost five, drawn one and won just one of their subsequent seven top-flight fixtures and are currently 12th in the table.

Frank Schmidt's side were also eliminated from the second round of the DFB-Pokal on October 30 when they lost 2-1 against Hertha Berlin.

Schmidt's team prevented Pafos from creating a single big chance against them, though fans may still be concerned that the German team faced 15 shots.

Heidenheim have lost four, drawn one and won just one of their last six games in all competitions, scoring four goals and conceding seven times in that period.

The visitors have also lost four and won two of their last six away games, although it should be noted they have won all four of their matches in the Europa League.

Hearts Conference League form:


Hearts form (all competitions):


Heidenheim Conference League form:


Heidenheim form (all competitions):



Team News

Lennard Maloney of Heidenheim during his side's match against Borussia Dortmund on September 13, 2024© Imago

Hearts will be unable to select defender Gerald Taylor until early January 2025 as a result of a knee injury, while midfielder Calem Nieuwenhof is not scheduled to return from a hamstring injury until the middle of this month.

Adam Forrester, Frankie Kent, Kye Rowles and Stephen Kingsley are likely to start in defence behind a midfield double pivot consisting of Malachi Boateng and Cameron Devlin.

Winger Yutaro Oda has also been ruled out, so expect Critchley to field a front two consisting of Blair Spittal and Lawrence Shankland.

Heidenheim will be without midfielder Julian Niehues until December, as well as midfielder Luka Janes until late November.

Elsewhere, midfielders Thomas Leon Keller and Lennard Maloney are not expected to be ready for Thursday's clash, so perhaps the visitors will start with Luca Kerber and Niklas Dorsch in a double pivot.

Marnon Busch, Patrick Mainka, Tim Siersleben and Norman Theuerkauf are almost certain to start in defence in front of goalkeeper Kevin Muller.


Hearts possible starting lineup:
Gordon; Forrester, Kent, Rowles, Kingsley; Vargas, Boateng, Devlin, Forrest; Shankland, Spittal

Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Busch, Mainka, Siersleben, Theuerkauf; Kerber, Dorsch; Conteh, Beck, Honsak; Kaufmann


SM words green background

We say: Hearts 1-1 Heidenheim

Heidenheim have struggled for results in recent weeks, but they have a strong record in the Europa League, and they could come away from Tynecastle Park with a point.

Additionally, though Hearts have been in somewhat better form since Critchley's appointment, the visitors proved to be defensively resilient against Pafos, and it would not be surprising if they frustrated their hosts.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




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Who will win Thursday's Conference League clash between Hearts and Heidenheim?

Hearts
Draw
Heidenheim
Hearts
100%
Draw
0.0%
Heidenheim
0.0%
5
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TeamPWDLPTS
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4Lugano22006
5Hearts22006
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9Rapid Vienna22006
10Shamrock21104
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12Omonia21013
13New Saints21013
14Gent21013
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16Celje21013
17Pafos21013
18Molde21013
19Cercle Brugge21013
20Noah21013
21Ljubljana21013
22Astana21013
23HJK Helsinki21013
24Djurgarden20111
25Copenhagen20111
26Betis20111
27LASK20111
28APOEL20111
29Panathinaikos20111
30Dinamo Minsk20020
31Mlada Boleslav20020
32Backa Topola20020
33Istanbul20020
34Petrocub20020
35Larne20020
36St Gallen20020


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