Stuttgart vs Heidenheim Prediction: Another Roten goal rush

A 2-1 defeat at home to Werder Bremen, followed by last Saturday's 4-4 thriller at Union Berlin, has severely dented VfB Stuttgart's push for Europe, with Die Roten now six points behind sixth-placed Mainz with just four rounds of fixtures remaining.

On Friday night (19:30, Sky Sports+), Sebastian Hoeness' side host relegation-threatened 1. FC Heidenheim at MHPArena, with the visitors currently in the play-off position, two points ahead of 17th-placed VFL Bochum and eight points behind 15th-placed Hoffenheim. Below are my Stuttgart vs Heidenheim predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds, ahead of this Friday night Bundesliga game.

Team News

Josha Vagnonman, Jamie Leweling (both muscle), Dan-Axel Zagadou (knee) and El Bilal Toure (leg) are all missing for Stuttgart this week due to injury.

Football Odds

However, Nick Woltemade, who was dismissed for two bookable offences in a 2-1 defeat to Werder Bremen on April 13, is available for selection again after serving his suspension last weekend.

Georgian forward Budu Zivzivadze (ankle) misses out again for Heidenheim, but Norman Theuerkauf (illness) and Mathias Honsak (muscle) could return for the visitors.

Leo Scienza and Julian Niehues both came on at half-time for Heidenheim last Saturday and will come into Frank Schmidt's thinking for his starting XI on Friday.

Stuttgart vs Heidenheim Odds

Stuttgart won 3-1 in Heidenheim in December and are 4/9 to do the double over their opponents this week, despite Die Roten losing their last five league games at home. The visitors, who have lost their last three matches but only have one defeat from their last four on the road, are 9/2, or an 18.2% chance, to secure a vital victory on Friday.

The draw is priced at 18/5, both teams to score at 4/6, and over 2.5 total goals at 1/2.

Stuttgart striker Ermedin Demirovic is 21/20 favourite in the anytime goalscorer market, with Marvin Pieringer (13/5) first up for the away side.

Total Goals - Over 4.5 @ 3/1

Stuttgart and Heidenheim both shipped four goals each last weekend, although the former did manage to claim a point in a 4-4 draw, while the latter were thrashed 4-0 at home by Bayern Munich.

Statistically, Heidenheim are the third-worst defensive team in the Bundesliga this season, with only the two clubs below them, Holstein Kiel (71) and Bochum (62), conceding more than FCH (60).

Stuttgart, meanwhile, have been breached 50 times in the German top flight - only the bottom four and Werder Bremen (54) have a poorer back line record.

Hoeness' side have been involved in six league games this season that have gone over 4.5 goals, accounting for 20% of their tally (6/30), going up to 33% at home, while 17% (5/30) of Heidenheim's Bundesliga matches have finished with five or more strikes, although that number rises to 33% for away outings.

Four goals were scored in December's reverse fixture at Voith-Arena as Die Roten ran out 3-1 winners, while the corresponding game last season saw six goals shared in a 3-3 draw.

Given recent head-to-heads and scorelines, as well as the damage done to both defences this season, there's value to be had in backing over 4.5 goals on Friday at 3/1.

Player to Receive a Card - Jan Schoppner (HEI) @ 7/2

Only seven players - one from Heidenheim, none from Stuttgart - have been shown more yellow cards in this season's Bundesliga than FCH's Jan Schoppner (eight), who was booked in December's reverse meeting between the two sides.

The 25-year-old committed two fouls in that defeat for Heidenheim, and he's averaging 1.2 fouls per 90 minutes for the season.

Schoppner has made two fouls in two of his last three appearances, including against Bayern Munich last weekend. He was hooked at half-time against Vincent Kompany's side after being booked in the 43rd minute, his third card in his last four games.

Stuttgart, meanwhile, have a few players that could pose Schoppner problems on Friday.

Midfielders Atakan Karazor and Angelo Stiller are fouled, on average, 2.1 and 1.4 times per 90, respectively, in the 2024/25 German top flight, and with Schoppner doing most of his business in the middle of the pitch, he looks a good bet for a card at MHPArena.

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