Heidenheim and Chelsea are both seeking to maintain their perfect records in the league phase of the Conference League on Thursday when they meet in Germany.
Enzo Maresca's side have been untouchable in Europe thus far, scoring 16 goals in their three league phase encounters. An 8-0 thrashing of Armenian outfit Noah ensured they were Conference League leaders come the end of Matchday 3.
The Blues' domestic form has been patchier over recent weeks but a 2-1 victory over Leicester City at the weekend means they remain third in the Premier League table. The west London club's starting XI will be handed a valuable rest midweek as the supporting cast are gifted the chance to shine in southern Germany.
Heidenheim were shock qualifiers for the Conference League, securing an eighth-placed Bundesliga finish in their maiden campaign in the competition. The top flight has proven too tough to handle at times this term but domestic negativity hasn't seeped into their European performances following three wins from three games in the league phase.
Here is 90min's guide to a first meeting between Heidenheim and Chelsea.
Heidenheim vs Chelsea H2H Record
This is the first competitive fixture between Heidenheim and Chelsea.
Current form (all competitions)
Heidenheim Chelsea
Bayer Leverkusen 5-2 Heidenheim - 23/11/24 Leicester 1-2 Chelsea - 23/11/24
Heidenheim 1-3 Wolfsburg - 10/11/24 Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal - 10/11/24
Hearts 0-2 Heidenheim - 07/11/24 Chelsea 8-0 Noah - 07/11/24
Holstein Kiel 1-0 Heidenheim - 02/11/24 Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea - 03/11/24
Hertha BSC 2-1 Heidenheim - 30/10/24 Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea - 30/10/24
Country TV channel/live stream
United Kingdom TNT Sports 1, discovery+, discovery+ App
United States Paramount+, ViX
Canada DAZN Canada
Frank Schmidt
Frank Schmidt has worked wonders at Heidenheim / Christof Koepsel/GettyImages
Legendary Heidenheim manager Frank Schmidt, who has been in the dugout since 2007, will have to produce a tactical masterplan to stifle a star-studded Chelsea XI on Thursday, but he will have to do so without the club's top Bundesliga scorer Marvin Pieringer after he suffered an Achilles injury in Saturday's 5-2 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen.
Forward Denis Thomalla, striker Stefan Schimmer and midfielder Thomas Leon Keller are all ineligible to feature after not being named in Heidenheim's Conference League squad. Julian Niehues is sidelined with a knee problem, while Luka Janes and Marnon-Thomas Busch could miss out through injury.
Heidenheim predicted lineup vs Chelsea (4-3-3): Muller; Traore, Mainka, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Dorsch, Maloney, Schoppner; Beck, Breunig, Honsak.
Pedro Neto
Pedro Neto picked up a knock with Portugal / Gualter Fatia/GettyImages
Chelsea could well be without several first-teamers for their trip to Germany, with Pedro Neto a potential absentee on the wing. The Portuguese forward picked up a knock over the international break and missed Saturday's win over Leicester.
Chelsea's other issues come at right-back, with the Blues sweating on the fitness of Reece James after he suffered another injury setback recently. Malo Gusto is also a doubt after missing the weekend due to illness.
Maresca will make sweeping changes to his starting XI on Thursday, as he has done in previous Conference League fixtures, but Chelsea will still be able to field a remarkable lineup. The likes of Christopher Nkunku, Mykhailo Mudryk, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Axel Disasi are among those likely to come into the team.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Heidenheim (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Disasi, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Veiga; Dewsbury-Hall, Lavia; George, Nkunku, Mudryk; Guiu.
Chelsea have waltzed through their Conference League campaign thus far and should have no issues dispatching of Heidenheim midweek. The Bundesliga side showed their strengths and weaknesses on Saturday, surrendering a two-goal lead in a 5-2 hammering at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen.
Schmidt is without his star centre-forward Pieringer - something he blamed the defeat at the BayArena on - and Heidenheim will struggle to compete with a refreshed and superior Chelsea XI.
The Blues have conceded three in meetings with Gent and Panathinaikos this term and could allow a few opportunities at the Voith-Arena, but they boast more than enough firepower to win relatively comfortably.
Prediction: Heidenheim 1-3 Chelsea
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