Heidenheim vs Borussia Dortmund: Bundesliga Team News, Preview
By Tushar Bahl
Borussia Dortmund will hope to keep their winning run going in the Bundesliga this Friday as they take on Heidenheim away from home.
It has been a dream start to 2024 for Borussia Dortmund, who have roared back into the Bundesliga top four after winning three games in a row. The Black and Yellows will now hope to keep this run going, but a potentially tricky test lies in store for them away to Heidenheim.
Last season's 2. Bundesliga winners are enjoying an excellent campaign in Germany's top flight. And their charge began in their reverse fixture against Borussia Dortmund, when they came from two goals down to rescue a point.
Frank Schmidt's side are tenth in the Bundesliga standings, and have started 2024 with three straight draws. In fact, Heidenheim are unbeaten in their last six games and could pose a few problems to Borussia Dortmund on Friday.
Leading the charge for Heidenheim has been former BVB youth team player Jan-Niklas Beste, who has five goals and seven assists to his name in the Bundesliga this season. Eren Dinkçi has also impressed up front, while Lennard Maloney is enjoying a fine season in midfield.
Borussia Dortmund will hope for the return of Julian Brandt, after he missed the home game against Bochum due to illness. Mats Hummels and Emre Can could also be in contention to play from the start. Ramy Bensebaini should also return to the squad, but Gregor Kobel is a doubt due to his ear infection. Karim Adeyemi, Julian Ryerson and Felix Nmecha are still sidelined, while Sebastien Haller is on Africa Cup of Nations duty.
Jadon Sancho is also a doubt, with muscular problems affecting him at the moment. The Englishman could be replaced by his compatriot Jamie Bynoe-Gittens in the starting XI.
Niclas Füllkrug scored a hat-trick to lead Borussia Dortmund to victory last weekend, and the Germany international will have a key role to play once again on Friday. It will be interesting to see if Edin Terzic sticks with the two-striker formation that worked rather well last weekend.
Heidenheim vs Borussia Dortmund: Expected Starting XIs
Heidenheim: Müller - Traoré, Mainka, Siersleben, Föhrenbach - Maloney, Schöppner - Dinkçi, Beck, Beste - Kleindienst
Borussia Dortmund: Meyer - Meunier, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen - Can, Sabitzer - Malen, Bynoe-Gittens - Füllkrug, Moukoko