Heidenheim vs Nurnberg Predictions

• Heidenheim are one of only four 2. Bundesliga teams to concede less than ten home goals.
• Only one 2. Bundesliga team have conceded less home goals than Heidenheim this season.
• Nurnberg have 2. Bundesliga’ fourth-worst defensive record away from home.
• Heidenheim have kept more home clean sheets than any other team in the division this term.

Voith-Arena tough place to go

They may not be in the top three at present, but Heidenheim are having an excellent campaign. They’ve become a side that is tough to beat, especially at home, while they’re no strangers to picking up wins, which is why they’re residing just four points below the promotion places.

The side from southern Germany has performed well all round, though their best work has been carried out at Voith-Arena, where they’ve won six, drawn three and lost just two of their 11 matches. Offensively, as the scorers of a respectable 17 goals, they’re useful but it is what they’ve done at the other end that has caught the eye most. Heidenheim have conceded just two goals at home this season. Stuttgart, who’re currently 3^rd, are the only team in the division with a better home defensive record than Friday’s hosts, who’ve kept a clean sheet in no less than 64% of their matches in front of a home crowd.

Away-day woes for visitors

While Heidenheim have been tough, sturdy and generally difficult to beat at home, Nurnberg have been nothing more than so-so on the road. In fact, they’ve been reasonably weak. Friday’s visitors have lost more games than they’ve won away from home, while they’ve also conceded more goals than they’ve scored, which is concerning.

Like the hosts at home, Jens Keller’s men have scored a respectable amount of travelling goals, notching 17 in ten games. Not many teams would sneeze at an average of 1.7 for away from home. However, goals scored pales into insignificance somewhat when put against goals conceded. Nurnberg have conceded no less than 20 goals in their ten away games, and yet they’ve also kept four clean sheets.

Nurnberg’s real problem is that the floodgates have tended to open when they have conceded. They’re yet to have a game where they conceded less than three goals. Quite simply, they either keep teams out or fall to pieces at the back. What is also worrying is that they’ve conceded seven goals in two away games against top-four opposition.

Stick with the hosts

In the early betting, the home win looks somewhat short, so much so that punters should take advantage by siding with Heidenheim to come out on top. While Nurnberg have crumbled all too often on their travels, conceding three or more goals on six occasions, Heidenheim have made a habit of restricting teams. The hosts have also done a good job of getting their noses in front, especially of late, winning four of their last six home games. They’ve kept a clean sheet in five of those six. The record of the visitors away against the top teams adds to the appeal of a home win.