Frank Schmidt insists his Heidenheim side are perfectly prepared for Friday's top-of-the-table clash against 1. FC Kaiserslautern. The 1. FC Heidenheim head coach dismissed the significance of the three-week international break, calling it "overrated" and stating his team used it well for productive friendly matches. "We will not need any warm-up period, neither will Kaiserslautern," Schmidt said. "It will be competitive from the first second."

Heidenheim, currently third in the 2. Bundesliga with 13 points from six games, host fifth-placed Kaiserslautern at the Voith-Arena on Friday evening (18:30). Schmidt's team collected ten points from their last four league matches before the break, stabilising after a poor season start that included an early cup exit. Their recent form reads three wins, one draw and one defeat from the last five outings.

Team news ahead of the match

Several players returned from international duty with fatigue. Striker Budu Zivzivadze, one of three Heidenheim players on national team duty, brought back a certain level of weariness from his games with Georgia. Whether the 32-year-old will feature on Friday is still undecided, according to Schmidt. Sirlord Conteh will definitely miss out due to a training deficit, while Maximilian Breunig is out with a muscle fibre tear. Marcel Costly's participation remains uncertain.

Schmidt's view of the opponent

The 52-year-old manager holds the opponent in high regard. "We should not pretend as if we last met half a year ago," Schmidt stated. He considers Kaiserslautern one of the best teams in the league, capable of finishing at the very top. Schmidt expects a compact side with pace in their defensive line, quick transitions and strength from set-pieces. Preparation for this specific opponent has therefore been intensive.

With the league table and the upcoming schedule in mind, home advantage is key for this duel. A victory would further solidify Heidenheim's position in the promotion race, currently led by Hertha BSC. The team has scored 14 goals this season but has also conceded twelve. The top scorer so far is Jonas Schöppner with three goals.

Friday's match kicks off the seventh matchday. All current league standings and detailed statistics are available in the standings. Frank Schmidt and his team aim to continue the positive trend from their pre-break matches, including a 3-1 win over Würzburg, and apply pressure from the very first minute.

Read the full report at sportschau.de