Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the UEFA Conference League match.
It seemed that participating in European competitions would make it extremely difficult for Heidenheim to stay in the top half of the Bundesliga, but the team remains well-positioned even after two painful setbacks. Olimpija Ljubljana have not yet faced competition this season of the level they are set to encounter on Thursday.
Heidenheim
In the Conference League qualifiers, Heidenheim overcame BK Häcken (5:3 on aggregate), and before the international break, they won five consecutive matches with a total score of 15:3. Defeats to Borussia Dortmund (2:4) and SC Freiburg (0:3) served as valuable lessons for the team. Against Mainz 05 in their last outing, they were ruthless, producing a solid xG of 1.50 and significantly outperforming their opponents (14-7 in shots and 7-1 on target).
Olimpija Ljubljana
The Slovenian league kicked off in mid-July, and Olimpija Ljubljana have been on an unbeaten run of 18 games since. However, their only notable opponents have been Sheriff Tiraspol (3:0 and 1:0) and Maribor (1:1). The team lacks players of European level, and reaching the Conference League group stage is already considered an achievement for many.
Heidenheim vs Olimpija Ljubljana Prediction
Heidenheim's debut on the international stage will go according to their plan. Olimpija Ljubljana simply do not have the quality to compete on equal terms with a top-eight Bundesliga team.
