Legendary Heidenheim coach Frank Schmidt, who has led the club since 2007, recently reflected on how reaching Germany’s second tier was once his dream. Now, the small-town club finds itself hosting two-time European champions Chelsea in a European competition.
Despite their lack of experience on the continental stage, Heidenheim has impressed in the Conference League so far, winning all three of their group-stage matches against NK Olimpija Ljubljana, Pafos FC, and Hearts. Those victories place them sixth in the 36-team standings.
However, domestically, Heidenheim is struggling, sitting 15th in the Bundesliga, just two points clear of the relegation playoff zone. Their latest league outing saw them squander a two-goal lead before falling 5-2 to Bayer Leverkusen.
While their European campaign has been flawless, Heidenheim is winless in their last seven matches across all competitions, a concerning run as they prepare to face Chelsea.
Chelsea, meanwhile, is riding high. After a narrow EFL Cup exit to Newcastle in October, the Blues have gone unbeaten in November. Their latest Premier League win came against Leicester City, where Nicolas Jackson—mocked last season for poor finishing—scored his seventh league goal of the campaign, with Enzo Fernandez adding a second to secure the victory. Chelsea now sits third in the Premier League, just one point behind second-placed Manchester City as the festive fixtures approach.
On the European front, Chelsea has dominated the Conference League group stage, scoring a staggering 16 goals in their first three matches. In their most recent outing, a second-string squad dismantled FC Noah 8-0, with standout performances from Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku, who each netted a brace. These results highlight why Chelsea is the overwhelming favorite to win UEFA’s third-tier trophy in Wroclaw next year.
With Heidenheim struggling for form and Chelsea firing on all cylinders, Thursday’s clash is set to be a significant test for the German underdogs.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Heidenheim was dealt a major setback during their weekend loss to Bayer Leverkusen, with top scorer Marvin Pieringer ruled out until early February due to an Achilles tendon injury. The striker, who has four goals this season, joins Luka Jens on the injury list. Jens, sidelined with a shoulder injury, has yet to make an appearance this season.The squad’s injury woes don’t stop there. Midfielders Thomas Leon Keller and Julian Niehues are also yet to feature in the 2024-25 campaign due to ongoing fitness issues.
Chelsea, meanwhile, is managing their own injury concerns ahead of Thursday’s trip to Germany. Winger Pedro Neto missed the win over Leicester last weekend as he recovers from a minor knock sustained during Portugal’s international break.
Reece James is also sidelined again after suffering another hamstring strain, with Chelsea awaiting scan results to determine the severity of the issue. This adds to James’s growing list of setbacks, keeping him out of action for the foreseeable future.
Right-back options could be further limited if Malo Gusto remains unavailable. Gusto missed the Leicester match due to illness, leaving Enzo Maresca potentially short-handed in the position.
With a demanding schedule through the holiday season, Chelsea is expected to rotate their squad for this Conference League fixture. This likely means starts for players like Tosin Adarabioyo, Axel Disasi, and Renato Veiga as the Blues aim to manage fitness levels across the team.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Heidenheim possible starting lineup:Muller; Traore, Manika, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Dorsch, Maloney, Schoppner; Conteh, Honsak, Wanner
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Jorgensen; Disasi, Badiashile, Adarabioyo, Veiga; Caicedo, George, Nkunku, Felix, Mudryk; Guiu
EXPERT PREDICTION
Heidenheim 1-3 Chelsea
Even though Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is expected to field a second-string lineup, the excitement among Heidenheim’s fans remains sky-high. Regardless of the odds and the likelihood of a tough defeat, the occasion is one to savor for the home crowd.
