Heidenheim vs Stuttgart: prediction, head-to-head and probable lineups – 22 February 2026
One of the matches of Bundesliga Round 23 will be played on Sunday at the Voith-Arena in Heidenheim an der Brenz, where the local side Heidenheim will host Stuttgart. Let's take a closer look at a bet on the outcome of this clash, factoring in current form and the difference in squad quality.
- See also: Southampton vs Charlton Athletic: prediction, head-to-head and probable lineups – 21 February 2026
Match preview
Heidenheim are sinking deeper into the relegation battle. Thomas Frank’s team hasn’t tasted victory since early December, when they beat Freiburg (2-1), and in the nine rounds that followed, they’ve collected just two points—draws against Cologne (2-2) and Wolfsburg (1-1), with seven defeats. The gap to the safety of 16th place is now six points, and at the current pace, that’s a worrying sign.
Their lack of finishing is especially glaring: just 19 goals scored—the worst record in the league. In their last four matches, Heidenheim have only struck twice—both against Borussia Dortmund (2-3)—while they failed to find the net at all versus Wolfsburg (0-1), Augsburg (0-1), and Leipzig (0-3). Interestingly, according to xG, the team consistently creates about 1.0 expected goals per game, but the end product is sorely lacking.
Stuttgart come into this round as one of the most consistent sides in the league. Over their last nine Bundesliga matches, the Swabians have lost just once—to St. Pauli (1-2)—and have drawn with Union (1-1) and Hoffenheim (0-0). In the previous round, they confidently dispatched Cologne, and midweek they hammered Celtic away (4-1) in the Europa League, all but securing a place in the next round.
Sebastian Hoeneß is managing squad rotation expertly: in the European fixture, changes were minimal, and on Sunday, key players such as Andress and Führich are expected to return to the starting lineup. The personnel situation is stable, with only Zagadou, Jovanovic, and Dill sidelined by injuries, allowing the coach to maintain the balance between intensity and quality.
Probable lineups
- Heidenheim: Ramaj, Gimber, Mainka, Behrens, Stergiou, Niuhu, Schöppner, Conteh, Dinkci, Ibrahimovic, Pieringer
- Stuttgart: Nübel, Jeltsch, Schabo, Assignon, Hendricks, Karazor, Stiller, Leweling, Undav, Führich, Demirovic
Match facts and head-to-head
- Heidenheim have not won in the Bundesliga since early December and have lost seven of their last nine matches.
- Stuttgart have suffered just one defeat in their previous nine league games and thrashed Celtic 4-1 in the Europa League this week.
- In six of the last eight head-to-head meetings, at least one team failed to score, and under 2.5 goals were recorded in five of the last seven clashes.
Prediction
The difference in form and squad quality is clear at this stage. While trips to Heidenheim have traditionally been tricky for Stuttgart, the visitors’ current level and the hosts’ finishing crisis point to a Swabian victory. Expect a pragmatic but confident win for Hoeneß’s men.
