Hamburg vs Heidenheim Predictions

• Both sides sit in the top four of the 2.Bundesliga.
• Hamburg have a six-point lead over the visitors.
• Heidenheim have claimed just 30% of their points this season away from home.
• Hamburg have won six on the bounce at home.

Top-four Promotion Clash

There’s a huge clash at the top of 2. Bundesliga this week, as Hamburg meet top-four rivals Heidenheim. Both sides are aiming for promotion to the top flight this term, although there’s a six-point gap between the hosts and the fourth-placed visitors. Can Hamburg extend that lead with three points in Friday night’s encounter?

Jekyll and Heidenheim

The visitors come into this clash on the verge of the play-off spot in the second tier, but they’ve certainly had a mixed season. Taking six wins and five draws from 15 matches isn’t the worst return, but the visitors have had an odd split of results. They’ve claimed a huge 70% of their points at home this season, with just 39% of their goals coming on the road.

Heidenheim have won just one of their away trips this season – failing to win any of their previous six. That poor record comes after they fell behind in 86% of their away trips, with their opponents scoring their first goal on almost every outing on their travels. That run could well continue in this visit to Hamburg.

Home Comforts for Hamburg

Heidenheim take their shaky away record to the best home side in the division here. Hamburg have a near-perfect record at this ground so far, having won all but one of their matches at home in the league. Each of their last six 2. Bundesliga games here have seen them win, while they’ve scored twice in five straight home league games.

That scoring rate is enough for the hosts if they can keep it going. The visitors have been averaging narrowly above a goal per game on the road this term, while 67% of their away goals have come in the final 15 minutes. They could add another late consolation here, but we expect Hamburg to claim all three points this week.

Heidenheim have scored in 86% of their away trips this season, while they are looking to add to a fine run on the road. The visitors have seen both teams score in all but one of their away trips, with both meetings between these two last term seeing both teams hit the back of the net. Hamburg have seen 60% of their games finish with both teams scoring, following a run of eight straight games, which have all seen both teams find the net. As a result, our correct score prediction is a 2-1 home win.