Heidenheim vs. Mainz preview: Mainz to secure 16th place with victory
Heidenheim
Heidenheim have by all means overachieved this season and through the incapability of many of the teams above them, they still have a chance of Conference League football.
An inspired one-nil victory over Darmstadt kept them in the race for the last European spot as Nikola Dovedan's late strike releagted the Lillies.
Sitting at thirty-seven points, Frank Schmidt will look to become the first manager since fellow long standing coach Christian Streich in 2017 to qualify for Europe in a promoted season.
Tim Kleindienst has been the most prolific of all the promoted players this season and has scored eleven goals in the Bundesliga this campaign.
Lastly, ahead of Sunday's match with Mainz, Heidenheim manager Frank Schmidt said: “Mainz are currently fighting for survival, even though they were written off weeks ago. After the coaching change, they've worked their way up.”
Adrian Beck is out for Schmidt and Thomas Keller will also be unavailable due to a knee injury.
Lennard Maloney has a shoulder injury so will miss the game and both Elidon Qenaj and Marnon-Thomas Busch are both out and a doubt respectively.
Mainz 05
Mainz were left broken after a late Florian Kainz penalty was converted last weekend despite the 05ers being lucky to leave the ground with a draw.
A missed Luca Waldschmidt penalty earlier in the second half gave coach Bo Henriksen a lifeline even though Mainz keeper Robin Zentner was left angered by the penalties gifted to Köln.
Following two four-goal victories, Mainz have faltered twice in their pursuit of automatic safety in the Bundesliga by drawing in back to back ties.
Adding to this, Mainz will have to make do without many of their key players like Nadiem Amiri and Brajan Gruda due to suspension.
Finally, ahead of the game, Mainz's manager Bo Henriksen said: “This game is another final for us. We want to go there and show how good we are.”
Nadiem Amiri is out with yellow card suspension and so is Brajan Gruda. Stefan Bell and Jessic Ngankam will both be unavailable as well.
Phillipp Mwene and Maxim Leitsch are out with suspension and injury respectively and Karim Onisiwo will be a doubt due to his broken finger endured against 1. FC Köln last weekend.
