1. FC Heidenheim face significant attacking selection headaches ahead of their key away match at VfL Wolfsburg. Mikkel Kaufmann and Budu Zivzivadze are doubts for the trip, while Sirlord Conteh and Maximilian Breunig are ruled out through injury.
Frank Schmidt's side travel as the third-placed team in the 2. Bundesliga with 14 points, riding a five-match unbeaten run in the league. They have taken 11 points from a possible 15 during that spell, despite being held to a 0-0 draw by 1. FC Kaiserslautern last time out. You can review their full run of results and upcoming fixtures. Their next fixture after the Wolfsburg match is a home game against Fortuna Düsseldorf on 24 October.
Glatzel the aerial threat
Head coach Frank Schmidt pinpointed the specific danger posed by former Heidenheim striker Robert Glatzel. Schmidt said Glatzel is "unfassbar gut in der Luft", unbelievably good in the air. The striker has already netted four goals this season. Schmidt expects a dominant Wolfsburg but sees opportunities. "There are always phases where they let the opponent in. We have to be there then," the Heidenheim boss said. He emphasised that his team has delivered very compact and disciplined defensive work in recent weeks, which will be required again.
VfL Wolfsburg, relegated from the Bundesliga last season, remain promotion favourites and currently sit fifth. Their most recent match was a thrilling 4-4 draw with 1. FC Nürnberg. The last meeting between the two sides ended in a 1-1 draw back in January. The clash on Saturday, 17 October, at 13:00 is a direct duel in the upper reaches of the table. The current standings and Heidenheim's squad list provide further context.
