Heidenheim will host Chelsea at Voith-Arena this Thursday, both teams aiming to keep their flawless Conference League records intact.
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The German side is coming off a difficult defeat in the Bundesliga, while Chelsea is riding high on a strong start to the Premier League season under Enzo Maresca.
Heidenheim, under the management of Frank Schmidt since 2007, has punched above its weight on the continental stage, making a perfect start to the 2024-25 Conference League.
The German minnows have won all three of their group-stage matches, defeating NK Olimpija Ljubljana, Pafos FC, and Hearts of Scotland. Despite this success, their domestic form has been far from impressive, as they sit 15th in the Bundesliga, just above the relegation playoff zone.
This follows an extraordinary eighth-place finish last season, which earned them their European spot. However, their form took a hit last weekend when they raced into a 2-0 lead against Bayer Leverkusen only to be thrashed 5-2.
Chelsea, on the other hand, is enjoying a promising start to the Premier League campaign, sitting in third place with just one point separating them from second-placed Manchester City.
After a challenging debut season, Nicolas Jackson has hit his stride, scoring seven goals this season, and is becoming a more reliable presence in the attack. The Blues’ recent form includes a dominant 4-0 victory in the Conference League against FC Noah, underlining their strength in Europe. With 16 goals in three games, Chelsea has proven to be a powerful force in the competition, making them favorites to win the title in 2025.
For Heidenheim, the match against Chelsea will be their biggest challenge yet, as they look to continue their European success. However, they will be without leading scorer Marvin Pieringer, who has been sidelined with an Achilles injury. In addition, Luka Jens, Thomas Leon Keller, and Julian Niehues remain unavailable due to various fitness concerns.
Chelsea, too, has injury worries of their own, with Reece James facing another hamstring strain and winger Pedro Neto still a doubt for Thursday’s match after suffering a minor knock on international duty. The Blues are expected to rotate their squad, with players like Tosin Adarabioyo, Axel Disasi, and Renato Veiga likely to start.
Despite the challenges, Schmidt’s side will be buoyed by their fans at Voith-Arena, and although Chelsea’s second-string squad is expected to be fielded, Heidenheim will be hoping to give a strong account of themselves on the European stage. Chelsea’s dominance in Europe makes them the overwhelming favorites, but with Heidenheim’s perfect start in the group stage, they will certainly look to put up a fight.
Team News:
- Heidenheim has been struck with injuries, losing key players like Marvin Pieringer (Achilles) and Luka Jens (shoulder).
- Chelsea is also dealing with injury concerns, including Reece James (hamstring) and Pedro Neto (minor knock).
- Both teams will likely field rotated lineups given their busy schedules.
Predicted Lineups:
- Heidenheim: Muller; Traore, Manika, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Dorsch, Maloney, Schoppner; Conteh, Honsak, Wanner
- Chelsea: Jorgensen; Disasi, Badiashile, Adarabioyo, Veiga; Caicedo, George, Nkunku, Felix, Mudryk; Guiu
As Heidenheim takes on Chelsea in this exciting Conference League matchup, they will aim to continue their perfect start in Europe, but the odds are stacked against them with Chelsea’s firepower and depth. Can the German side surprise the Blues, or will Chelsea continue their dominance in the competition?
