The 2024/25 Bundesliga season resumes this week with Matchday 30 on Saturday. The action on the day will start with five simultaneous fixtures, including FC Heidenheim vs Bayern Munich at Voith Arena.
FC Heidenheim came into the 2024/25 campaign on the back of an impressive 2023/24 season, which ended with European qualification. However, this term has seen them struggle, with Frank Schmidt’s men struggling since a solid start to the Bundesliga crusade.
The hosts were atop the standings after Matchday 2, having started 2024/25 with two successive wins. Since then, Schmidt’s charges have won only four more games, spending the season in and around the drop zone. With Heidenheim in the relegation playoff spot heading into this weekend, guaranteed safety is unlikely.
On the other hand, Bayern Munich will aim to end a miserable week by getting closer to the Bundesliga title. Inter Milan booted Die Roten out of the UEFA Champions League earlier this week after the quarter-final second leg ended in a 2-2 draw.
However, the top-flight campaign has been impeccable, with Vincent Kompany’s men six points ahead of Bayer Leverkusen. A win on Saturday will take the Bavarian outfit within four points of the Bundesliga title.
The reverse fixture saw Bayern Munich beat FC Heidenheim 4-2, with Mathias Hosnak and Niklas Dorsch scoring the consolation goals for the relegation-threatened side. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Frank Schmidt has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The FC Heidenheim manager might be bereft of the services of three first-team players vs Bayern Munich on Saturday.
Schmidt is sweating over Norman Theuerkauf’s fitness, with the German midfielder recovering from illness. However, Budu Zivzivadze (knee) and Mathias Honsak (muscle) remain on the sidelines.
Kevin Muller is an automatic pick between the sticks, with FC Heidenheim lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Bayern Munich on Saturday. The central defensive unit should feature Patrick Mainka, Benedikt Gimber, and Tim Siersleben. Omar Haktab Traore and Frans Kraztig will likely start as the two wing-backs.
The wide duo will primarily create a back five during the defensive phases but also provide width in the final third. As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Marnon Busch and Jan Schoppner in the double pivot. Finally, Marvin Pieringer will lead the line for Heidenheim against Bayern Munich, with Niklas Dorsch and Adrian Beck providing creative support.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Muller; Mainka, Gimber, Siersleben; Traore, Busch, Schoppner, Kratzig; Dorsch, Beck; Pieringer
Like his counterpart in the FC Heidenheim dugout, Vincent Kompany has no new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to Voith Arena. The Bayern Munich manager will be without as many as half a dozen first-team players on Saturday.
Manuel Neuer (calf), Alphonso Davies (knee), Dayot Upamecano (knee), and Jamal Musiala (hamstring) are the most notable absentees for the away side. In addition, Hiroki Ito (foot) and Tarek Buchmann (shoulder) are in the treatment room.
Jonas Urbig will deputise for Neuer between the sticks, with Bayern Munich lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs FC Heidenheim on Saturday. The backline should feature Konrad Laimer, Eric Dier, Josip Stanisic, and Raphael Guerreiro.
As for the midfield unit, Aleksandar Pavlovic should get the nod over Leon Goretzka as Joshua Kimmich’s partner in the double pivot. Thomas Muller will likely reprise the no. 10 role, with Michael Olise and Serge Gnabry being the two wide attackers. Finally, Harry Kane will spearhead the Bayern Munich attack against Heidenheim on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Urbig; Laimer, Dier, Stanisic, Guerreiro; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Muller, Gnabry; Kane
While Harry Kane, Thomas Muller, and Marvin Pieringer were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Serge Gnabry as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s Bundesliga match between FC Heidenheim and Bayern Munich.
The German international achieved a league-high figure last week after scoring off the bench against Borussia Dortmund. Five of his six league goals this season have come as a substitute, more than any other player in the Bundesliga.
The only players to have more goals as a substitute for Bayern Munich than Gnabry (13) are Alexander Zickler (18) and Franck Ribery (15). Meanwhile, the 29-year-old was involved in both goals for Bayern Munich last season as they lost 4-2 to FC Heidenheim. So, he will be eager to add to all those numbers this weekend.
Considering Heidenheim’s struggles for most of the 2024/25 season, it is a straightforward prediction for us to pick Bayern Munich as the winning team for Saturday’s game. However, when you add to that the home side’s dreadful record at Voith Arena, it is futile to look past Bayern.
So, while the four meetings between FC Heidenheim and Bayern Munich have seen only the home team winning thus far, that run will end on Saturday. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Vincent Kompany and his charges.
