Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Bundesliga match.
The hosts made a dreadful start, losing 0:6 to Bayern Munich, and now they must make amends in front of their supporters. Heidenheim also began the season with a 1:3 defeat to Wolfsburg, but their structure and discipline suggest they can stay competitive even against top opponents.
RB Leipzig
The opening round was disastrous, yet it is important to take the calibre of the opponent into account — against the Bundesliga champions, RB Leipzig looked powerless. In the DFB-Pokal they got past SV Sandhausen (4:2), but defensive issues are stark: eight conceded across two competitive matches. In their last 10 league fixtures Leipzig have recorded only three wins, and they have conceded in eight of those games. At home things were also far from ideal — in the run-in last season the team failed to beat any of three opponents at the Red Bull Arena. However, the attack led by Loïs Openda remains a genuine threat; the squad can score even when the defence is wobbly.
Heidenheim
Heidenheim fell 1:3 to VfL Wolfsburg, and the team was much too passive in attack: there were only two shots from inside the penalty area. In the DFB-Pokal, Heidenheim comfortably beat TSG Balingen (5:0). The visitors’ form is generally decent: there have been three wins in the last five matches, and away from home there is a run of four victories on the spin. In the Bundesliga, goalscoring remains an issue, and the head-to-head against RB Leipzig is unfavourable — three defeats in four meetings, with only one draw snatched (2:2 last season).
RB Leipzig vs Heidenheim Prediction
Both teams are short of their optimum, but the gap in quality is clear. RB Leipzig should respond to the Bayern Munich debacle and play on the front foot. Defensive errors may still allow Heidenheim to find a goal. The optimal angle is a double chance towards the hosts combined with a high goals line.
