Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Conference League match.
The Istanbul club currently find themselves in 33rd place in the overall Europa Conference League standings, two points shy of the playoff zone, with only two rounds remaining. The German side are in a far better position, sitting ninth, with goal difference as the only factor keeping them from a higher rank. While Istanbul Basaksehir aim for a direct playoff qualification, Heidenheim are looking for at least a play-in spot.
Istanbul Basaksehir
Istanbul Basaksehir's issues primarily lie in their European endeavours. In the Turkish Super Lig, they may not be in the European competition zone, but with a game in hand, they trail by only four points. They have won their last three matches with a cumulative goal difference of +9 (10:1), having previously drawn with Besiktas (0:0). They have virtually no injury concerns, with only Serdar Gürler's muscle strain sidelining a player who is not a regular starter.
Heidenheim
Heidenheim have generally been successful in the Europa Conference League, with the understandable exception of a defeat to Chelsea (0:2). However, in the German league, the dual pressure has taken its toll on a squad ranked 15th, which typically finds it challenging to manage two matches per week due to a short bench. Additionally, Heidenheim have faced a tough fixture list. In the last three rounds, they played against the current top three teams, inevitably losing and conceding heavily to all: Bayer Leverkusen (2:5), Eintracht Frankfurt (0:4), and Bayern Munich (2:4). As a result, they find themselves in a transitional playoff spot.
Istanbul Basaksehir vs Heidenheim Prediction
The difficult psychological environment will impact the German players. Five consecutive defeats are not easily shaken off. Istanbul Basaksehir are likely to capitalise, making this a worthwhile bet.
