Record against Heidenheim
Overall: 6 games. 2 wins, 2 draws, 2 defeats. 11:10 goal difference.
In the Bundesliga: 2 games. 1 draw, 1 defeat. 3:5 goal difference.
Goals guaranteed in second half?
1. FC Heidenheim have shipped 17 Bundesliga goals after half-time this season – only VfL Bochum (21) have conceded more. VfB, incidentally, have scored 17 times in the second half of games this term, with only Bayern Munich (24) finding the net more often after the interval.
In-form Woltemade
Nick Woltemade has scored more Bundesliga goals for VfB (three in eight games) than he managed in 41 appearances for Werder Bremen (two). The striker, who is set to make his 50th top-flight appearance this weekend, scored all three of his goals after coming off the bench, making him the highest-scoring substitute in the Bundesliga so far this term.
Comeback kings
For the first time since beating Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-2 in March 2022, VfB recovered from two goals down to win a Bundesliga match on Matchday 13 as they beat Union Berlin 3-2. Sebastian Hoeneß’s team have fallen behind in three of their past four matches but have avoided defeat on each occasion (2-2 in Bremen, 3-2 against Union, 5-1 against Young Boys) to pick up seven valuable points.
Apart from FC St. Pauli, Heidenheim are the only Bundesliga side this season yet to register a point after falling behind. However, they managed to draw 3-3 at VfB last season despite trailing 2-0 in the second half.
What the coaches say
VfB head coach Sebastian Hoeneß: “It's not easy to play in Heidenheim and that will be the case again this time. They're stronger at home than on the road. It's going to be a very challenging match.”
Heidenheim head coach Frank Schmidt: “There were several personnel changes in Stuttgart over the summer, but VfB remain true to themselves. They continue to try to be successful with a lot of possession and flexible positional play.”
Personnel
Dan-Axel Zagadou, Luca Raimund, Jamie Leweling, El Bilal and Deniz Undav remain sidelined through injury. Ameen Al-Dakhil will play for the Under-21s against Borussia Dortmund II in the third division on Saturday.