Heidenheim vs St. Gallen prediction: EUROPE: Conference League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-12-18 20:00.
[p]Currently enduring a full-blown crisis, Heidenheim enter the final round of the UEFA Conference League league phase on the back of a seven-game losing streak across all competitions. That’s their worst run of losses under manager Frank Schmidt’s storied 644-game, 17-year reign at the club, but there is a silver lining ahead of this clash as thanks to Heidenheim’s early success, they’re already guaranteed to progress through the Conference League and could yet sneak into the top-eight with victory. [/p]
[p]Scoring seven times across their current run of defeats, Heidenheim have often failed due to their porous backline. Improving at the back will therefore be key as playing at home isn’t bound to stimulate any resurgence either, with the hosts conceding 12 goals across a current four-game losing run at Voith-Arena. Those four matches even make up part of a six-game winless run of home games in which Heidenheim scored only twice (D1, L5). [/p]
[p]Much like their hosts, St Gallen had been struggling with a dire six-game winless run (D3, L3) before they ended it with a Swiss Super League victory at the weekend. The confidence gained from that victory will be important as the equation is rather simple for the visitors, who must win here or else face elimination from the competition. That wouldn’t be too surprising for the Swiss club, who were also eliminated in their only previous UEFA main draw appearance.[/p]
[p]Playing away from home could provide a boost for St Gallen, whose last three competitive wins all came away from home and saw them score exactly twice on each occasion. Adding to the intrigue of that trend is that St Gallen won in spite of being graded as pre-match outsiders in their two most recent road victories, a tag which they hold ahead of the short trip north into Germany.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Sirlord Conteh became the fastest player in Bundesliga history earlier this month, clocking a speed of 36.82 km/hr against Bayern, and he has also been quick to score with both of his goals this season being match openers in Europe. After he scored at the weekend, Felix Mambimbi will do his best to outgun Heidenheim, though both of his scoring European appearances this season came in defeats. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: 11 of St Gallen’s last 15 competitive away games saw both teams score.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matthew Billon[/i][/p]