Highlights
T. Welz
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Full-time: Stuttgart 0-1 Heidenheim
© Christian Kaspar-Bartke
Full-time
90'
+ 3
Not convincing
Müller gets down to meet Stenzel's fierce strike, pushing the ball - or perhaps spilling it - round the post. Luckily for him, the ensuing corner causes no alarm.
90'
+ 2
Late changes
Applause for Krätzig, who's been brilliant today. Beck also makes way, with Thomas Keller and Jonas Föhrenbach on for the final two of four added minutes.
90'
+ 2
Substitution
90'
+ 2
Substitution
Not Stuttgart's day
© Christian Kaspar-Bartke
90'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
89'
Huge goal for Heidenheim!
Well, well, well. Honsak has just scored the goal that could keep Heidenheim from the drop. The substitute steps inside of his marker on the edge of the area and bends a wicked effort into the far corner. Absolute belter!
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
Distance to Goal
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
86'
Last-ditch defending
Heidenheim throw bodies in the way to repel a flurry of VfB chances, including a goal-bound strike from Karazor which Mainka does really well to clear in front of the goal-line.
84'
Post now!
Undav gets in front of his marker at the near post, but his header from Stenzel's inswinging corner goes wide off the upright. Müller was beaten!
81'
Crossbar!
Stuttgart's clearest opening yet as Woltemade picks up a bouncing ball, puts two defenders and Müller on their backs and chips against the bar.
80'
Fresh ideas
The fit-again Mathias Honsak replaces Marvin Pieringer, who's been pretty quiet in the Heidenheim attack. As for the hosts, Hoeneß hooks Führich and Demirović, with forward Jacob Bruun Larsen and defender Pascal Stenzel thrown on in what could prompt a return to a 4-4-2 formation.
79'
Substitution
79'
Substitution
79'
Substitution
78'
Needless booking
Conteh doesn't give Stiller the necessary space to take a free-kick and then sticks out a leg when the Stuttgart man does release the ball. That could could come back to haunt him in the dying embers...
74'
Stat attack
Possession (%)
6436
74'
Goal attempts
8off target
2on target
4off target
1on target
74'
74'
70'
Double switch
Schmidt hooks Busch and Dorsch, both of whom were on bookings. Sirlord Conteh and Luca Kerber are their replacements for the final 20 minutes or so...
70'
Substitution
70'
Substitution
70'
Going for it
It's another positive change from Stuttgart as Germany international attacker Jamie Leweling replaces Rieder.
70'
Substitution
68'
Low on Expected Goals
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
0
1.11
0.4
0
Goals
65'
No way through
Mainka shows great strength to force Woltemade into touch. The Stuttgart striker goes to ground, but that's never a penalty.
64'
Great awareness
Müller does really well again, this time holding his nerve to pluck out a teasing cross ahead of the rangy Woltemade.
63'
Flying save
Rieder goes for the top corner from the resultant free-kick, the Stuttgart midfielder's effort only kept out by the full-stretch Müller. Great reach!
62'
Unwanted yellow
Dorsch is late on Karazor. That's his fifth caution of the season, meaning he'll miss next week's relegation six-pointer with Bochum.
59'
Frans-tastic defending!
Just as it looks like Demirović is going to pull the trigger from inside the area, Krätzig slides in to prod the ball behind for a corner. Heroic stuff from the Bayern-owned youngster!
56'
Woodwork!
Beck does really well to win a corner that's played short to Dorsch. His cross finds the head of Mainka, whose downward header is toed onto the crossbar by Chabot. This is Heidenheim's best spell by a mile.
53'
Attacking change
And it's the nine-goal Woltemade replacing right-back Stergiou, with Stuttgart seemingly switching to a 3-4-3 formation.
53'
Substitution
49'
Positive from the visitors
Schöppner's long-range effort takes a deflection on its way through to Nübel. Heidenheim have certainly started the second half with more attacking intent...
46'
No changes at the break
Will we see a goal in what is a huge game for both clubs at the business end of the campaign?
Kick-off!
Half-time: Stuttgart 0-0 Heidenheim
© IMAGO/JULIA RAHN
© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Wolfgang Frank
Half-time
45'
+ 2
Booking
Busch goes into the book for a foul on Führich. Two of the allotted five additional minutes remain...
45'
+ 2
43'
Radar off
Mittelstädt loses the ball to Beck, who looks for Busch but overcooks his attempted pass. There was more in that!
42'
Wayward!
Müller's misplaced pass is picked off in midfield and helped on to Führich. He slips the ball to his left for Undav, who's leaning back and scoops over from a very presentable position in the Heidenheim penalty area.
39'
Worth a try
Heidenheim break out with Krätzig, but his shot from outside the VfB area is watched wide by Nübel, who's been a virtual spectator so far.
Competitive first half
© Christian Kaspar-Bartke
35'
Ball Recovery Time
Ball Recovery Time
Ball Recovery Time gives the time in seconds in which it takes a team to win back the ball following a loss of possession. It also allows conclusions to be drawn about a team's style of play. Only time when the ball is in play is counted (i.e. no breaks in play such as for goal-kicks, throw-ins etc).
33'
Expert defending
Mittelstädt gets a vital touch on a dangerous corner, with the blue shirts queuing up at the back post. Goalkeeper Alex Nübel applauds his left-back.
31'
Clean through!
Demirović turns away and races onto the end of Undav's defence-splitting pass. The first touch is perfect, but he doesn't get enough lift on his shot to beat the advancing Müller.
30'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
29'
Win probability
Win probability
0'
53.7 %
Now
50.3 %
25'
Off target
Traoré's clearance sits up nicely for Stiller on the edge of the area, but he can't find the target on his weaker left foot.
21'
Krätzig cautioned
The Bayern loanee is the first player into the book after impeding Rieder.
17'
Low-key opening
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
0
0.17
0.0
0
Goals
13'
In the mixer
Stuttgart return fire as Stiller crosses for Demirović, but his header sails off target.
10'
Chance!
Heidenheim almost score out of nothing. Traoré and Busch work the opening for Beck, who blazes off target from close range before a flag goes up for offside.
6'
Stuttgart in control
Possession (%)
6337
3'
Home drought
Stuttgart recently beat Leipzig here in the DFB Cup semi-finals, but haven't won a home league game since mid-January, losing to Gladbach, Wolfburg, Bayern, Leverkusen and Bremen.
1'
Under way!
Stuttgart in white, Heidenheim in blue - the ball is rolling at the MHPArena!
Kick-off!
We're off to never-never land...
Metallica's Enter Sandman blares out as the teams go through the usual pre-match pleasantries. Kick-off is moments away...
Teams in the tunnel
And the home fans are in fine voice. It's a southern derby, which only adds to the occasion...
Attacks compared
Stuttgart have scored almost twice as many goals as Heidenheim this season (56 compared to 32). Die Schwaben had already hit 70 at the same stage in 2023/24; Heidenheim - who went on to finish eighth - tallied 44.
European permutations
Stuttgart can close to within four points of the top six if results go their way on Matchday 31. If they don't, VfB could find themselves nine points adrift with three games to go and likely needing to win next month's DFB Cup final against third-tier Arminia Bielefeld in order to qualify for Europe.
Stay away from that trapdoor!
If Heidenheim lose in Stuttgart today and Bochum beat Union Berlin at home on Sunday, Schmidt's side will drop into the automatic relegation zone with three games to play. They could even end up bottom, if Holstein Kiel also win their meeting with Borussia Mönchengladbach tomorrow.
H2H record
Heidenheim won in Stuttgart last season, before losing and drawing with the 2023/24 Bundesliga runners-up in subsequent home games. The sides have also met in Bundesliga 2, with Heidenheim recording one win to VfB's two (plus one draw).
More on those teams
Fabian Rieder replaces the injured Enzo Millot in the Stuttgart midfield. Sebastian Hoeneß also has striker Nick Woltemade available again following suspension. Tim Siersleben replaces Sirlord Conteh, meanwhile, in the only change to the Heidenheim side that started the 4-0 loss to Bayern last weekend.
Stuttgart starting XI
Nübel - Stergiou, Jeltsch, Chabot, Mittelstädt - Rieder, Karazor (c), Stiller, Führich - Undav, Demirović
Stuttgart subs
Bredlow, Al-Dakhil, Hendriks, Jaquez, Stenzel, Keitel, Woltemade, Leweling, Bruun Larsen
Heidenheim starting XI
Müller - Mainka (c), Gimber, Siersleben - Traoré, Dorsch, Schöppner, Beck, Krätzig - Conteh, Pieringer
Heidenheim subs
Feller, Föhrenbach, Keller, Wanner, Niehues, Kerber, Scienza, Honsak, Conteh
Frank in no mood for a first
Heidenheim coaching hero Frank Schmidt has guided his side to four promotions (in 2008, 2009, 2014 and 2023) without ever seeing them relegated - and he will be determined to preserve that record in the remainder of 2024/25, even though Hoffenheim's eight-point advantage above them in 15th makes a relegation/promotion play-off likely.
Baden-Württemberg bragging rights at stake
Just over 50 miles separates Stuttgart and Heidenheim, with both clubs located in the state of Baden-Württemberg. The upstarts had the upper hand in the regional rivalry last season, winning 2-0 in Heidenheim and taking a 3-3 draw in Stuttgart, but the hosts have a chance to do the double over Frank Schmidt's side in the current campaign.
All to play for
With DFB Cup finalists Stuttgart needing a result to aid their outside chance of qualifying for Europe via the Bundesliga, and Heidenheim having just a two-point cushion over Bochum in 17th (an automatic relegation spot), both sides are sure to strive for a win.
Sebastian Hoeneß on Heidenheim
© IMAGO/Volker Müller
Frank Schmidt on Stuttgart
© IMAGO/Pressefoto Rudel/Robin Rudel
Undav's goal drought broken
© IMAGO/dts Nachrichtenagentur
2:03
Watch: Heidenheim 1-3 Stuttgart - previous meeting
Upturn sought
Stuttgart have lost their last five Bundesliga home games, a record sequence for the Swabians. Heidenheim, meanwhile, have failed to score in three consecutive matches for the first time in their Bundesliga history. Something's got to give at the MHPArena this weekend.
2:03
Watch: Union Berlin 4-4 VfB Stuttgart - highlights
2:03
Watch: Heidenheim 0-4 Bayern Munich - highlights
0:30