Heidenheim vs Chelsea Preview: Team News & Prediction

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After a remarkable few seasons, Heidenheim are struggling domestically but continuing the fairytale in Europe as they now take on the competition favourites, Chelsea, this week.

Kick-off date/time: Thursday 28th November, 2024: UK – 5:45pm / US ET – 12:45pm / US PT – 9:45am

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – Discovery+ / US – Paramount+

Heidenheim Preview: Keeping up the form in Europe

Heidenheim reached the Bundesliga for the first time ever in 2023 and then managed to squeeze themselves into the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying spots in 2024 beyond all expectation and they have found it difficult to balance so far.

They were hammered 5-2 by defending German champions Bayer Leverkusen at the weekend as they sit in the relegation playoff place in the Bundesliga but they have started their European campaign with three wins out of three.

Chelsea Preview: Too good for the UECL

Heidenheim are one of six teams to have started with a 100% record and they face the team currently at the top of the 36-team table. Enzo Maresca, with his £1 billion squad able to be rotated, sit at the top-of-the-table with three wins and 16 goals scored from three matches.

The Blues come into this on the back of a 2-1 defeat of Leicester City at the King Power Stadium at the weekend as they continue a strong start to the Premier League season. Their most recent European outing saw them defeat Armenian side Noah by eight goals to nil.

Heidenheim Team News: A few injuries

Heidenheim are dealing with a few key first-teamers being sidelined due to injury for this one with key attacker Marvin Pieringer sidelined alongside the likes of Marnon Busch, Thomas Keller and Luka Janes.

Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Muller; Fohrenbach, Mainka, Siersleben, Theuerkauf; Maloney; Conteh, Beck, Kerber, Kaufmann; Breunig

Unavailable: Janes (Injured), Keller (Injured), Busch (Injured), Pieringer (Injured)

Questionable:

Chelsea Team News: Rotation the word

As mentioned, Chelsea have heavily rotated in the UEFA Europa Conference League with Cole Palmer among those not in their squad for the first-half of the season. Christopher Nkunku and Mykhaylo Mudryk have thrived in the third-tier of UEFA competition.

Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Jorgensen; Disasi, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Veiga; Fernandez; George, Nkunku, Dewsbury-Hall, Mudryk; Guiu

Unavailable: James (Injured)

Questionable: Colwill (Injured), Gusto (Injured), Neto (Injured)

Key Stats

Heidenheim have won all their five UEFA competition matches this season. It is their debut season in UEFA competition.
Heidenheim have lost four of their last five matches in all competitions (W1).
Chelsea have won their last seven UEFA competition group/league phase matches.
Chelsea have lost only two of their last 17 UEFA competition group/league phase matches away from home (W12 D3).
Chelsea have lost only two of their last 15 matches in all competitions (W9 D4).
Only one of Chelsea’s last 76 UEFA competition matches has finished without a goal being scored.
Chelsea have won only two of their last ten UEFA competition matches away from home against German teams (D3 L5).
Christopher Nkunku has scored in all of Chelsea’s five UEFA competition matches this season.

Heidenheim vs Chelsea Prediction

Heidenheim, as mentioned, have perhaps overperformed and surprised many by winning all three of their UEFA Europa Conference League games because, despite being a Bundesliga side, that doesn’t necessarily come with a typical Bundesliga budget. They have struggled domestically and that form is likelier to show in this game than not. They will fancy their chances of scoring against a rotated Chelsea side but the Blues have so many scoring options, it would be a surprise to not eventually see a comfortable away win.

Heidenheim vs Chelsea Tip: Chelsea to win & both teams to score