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November 6 2024, 02:38 · Alex Lawes

Hearts vs Heidenheim Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Conference League | League Phase

Hearts vs Heidenheim Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Conference League | League Phase
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It has been a remarkable and genuinely surprising start to the 2024/25 UEFA Europa Conference League league phase campaign for Heart of Midlothian as they welcome one of the biggest over achievers in European football in recent seasons, Heidenheim. 

KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Thursday 7th November, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm

HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised

HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Discovery+ / US – Paramount+

HEARTS PREVIEW: HEARTS IN IT

Despite qualifying Heart of Midlothian for the league phase of the UEFA Europa Conference League, albeit doing that by losing their UEFA Europa League playoff, Steven Naismith was sacked by Hearts and replaced by former Blackpool boss Neil Critchley and the Edinburgh-based club have started their European campaign very well.

As they search for potential knockout football in the early spring, Hearts defeated Dinamo Minsk in their opening game in the neutral venue of Hungary with a second-half stoppage-time winner before the Jam Tarts then defeated Omonia Nicosia by two goals to nil at Tynecastle a couple of weeks ago. 

HEIDENHEIM PREVIEW: PUNCHING ABOVE THEIR WEIGHT

In recent seasons, German football has seen some very small clubs propel themselves to remarkable heights and Heidenheim are the latest version of that with one of the smallest budgets and fanbases in the Bundesliga with a limited squad turnover leading the visitors to propel themselves into seventh place and the UEFA Europa Conference League.

That came just a season after they gained promotion to the German top-flight and now, dealing with UECL football, they have coped surprisingly well once again. In their first ever European campaign, after defeating Hacken in the playoffs, Heidenheim have won both league phase games against Olimpija Ljubljana and Pafos. 

HEARTS TEAM NEWS: A FEW ABSENTEES

Hearts have no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues for this one against Heidenheim so they will be able to name an unchanged eleven if they so choose.

They do have a couple of absentees due to injury for this one, though, with their injury list including the likes of Gerald Taylor, Yutaro Oda and Calem Nieuwenhof. 

PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Gordon; Forrester, Kent, Rowles, Kingsley; Vargas, Boateng, Devlin, Forrest; Shankland, Spittal

UNAVAILABLE: Taylor (Injured), Nieuwenhof (Injured), Taylor (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: 

HEIDENHEIM TEAM NEWS: NOTHING FRESH

There are no fresh injury concerns for Heidenheim this weekend with midfielder Lennard Maloney still a doubt, though, due to a recent knock picked up.

As well as the potential absentee of Maloney, the visitors also have a couple of definite absentees such as Thomas Keller and Luka Janes. 

PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Muller; Busch, Mainka, Siersleben, Theuerkauf; Kerber, Dorsch; Conteh, Beck, Honsak; Kaufmann

UNAVAILABLE: Keller (Injured), Janes (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: Maloney (Injured)

KEY STATS

  • Hearts are aiming to win three successive UEFA competition matches for the first time.
  • Hearts have won three and lost six of their previous nine UEFA competition matches against German teams.
  • Hearts have won three of their previous five UEFA competition home matches against German teams.
  • Hearts have never drawn a UEFA competition group/league phase match (W5 L7).
  • Hearts have not drawn a home UEFA competition match since a 0-0 draw against Crvena Zvezda in the Cup Winners’ Cup qualifying round in August 1996 (26 home matches played since then).
  • Heidenheim have won all their previous four UEFA competition matches in their debut season in European competition.
  • Heidenheim have scored the first goal in all their previous four UEFA competition matches.

HEARTS VS HEIDENHEIM PREDICTION

Hearts and Heidenheim have both surprised many. Such is the format of the UEFA Europa Conference League and the fact the top 24 will qualify for at least the knockout playoffs, there is a good chance that both of these sides will be there and both sides will believe they are even just one point away. This is therefore expected to be a potentially cagey affair in which a low-scoring encounter is to be expected as they both settle for a potential point. 

HEARTS VS HEIDENHEIM TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS