Highlights

Matchday 13

FINAL

Red Bull Arena

1. FC Heidenheim 1846

45' + 2'

GimberBenedikt Gimber

PoulsenYussuf Poulsen

44'

OpendaLoïs Openda

29'

C. Dingert

Red Bull Arena

0:21

Watch: Openda: "I can score even more"

90'

+ 7

Full-time: Leipzig 2-1 Heidenheim

Leipzig very nearly paid for failing to take advantage of a plethora of chances with visitors Heidenheim almost levelling at the death. As it was, the hosts had Loïs Openda and Yussuf Poulsen to thank for the goals that brought Die Roten Bullen an eighth top-flight win and a provisional spot in the Bundesliga's top four.

Full-time

90'

+ 4

So close Gimber!

Heidenheim's No. 5 almost equalises! Beck's pass into the danger zone is met by Gimber, who dinks a shot at goal that just dips over the crossbar.

90'

+ 2

Substitution

Christopher Lenz

David Raum

90'

+ 1

Big Leipzig chance

Raum's cross from the left is nodded into the air by Heidenheim's Traoré. The ball drops onto the crossbar. Openda slams the follow up straight at Müller.

90'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes

Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.

Ikoma Loïs Openda35.68km/h

David Raum34.26km/h

Xavier Quentin Shay Simons33.97km/h

89'

Substitution

Castello Lukeba

Christoph Baumgartner

88'

Baumgartner yellow

Kevin Sessa is upended by Christopher Baumgartner and that's one more booking.

88'

Yellow card

Christoph Baumgartner

87'

Openda misses out

Openda is suddenly racing away and has a superb chance to wrap the game up. Müller is there to make one more save in this encounter.

86'

Gimber booked

Gimber shoves Openda to the floor and the referee has no choice but to whip out a yellow card.

86'

Yellow card

Benedikt Gimber

86'

Substitution

Denis Thomalla

Jan Schöppner

86'

Substitution

Stefan Schimmer

Jan-Niklas Beste

79'

RBL hit the post

Leipzig make a double switch with Forsberg and Šeško on and the former has an immediate impact, sending Openda free on the left. The Belgian forward lifts a shot from a tight angle against the upright.

78'

Substitution

Benjamin Šeško

Yussuf Poulsen

78'

Substitution

Emil Forsberg

Xavi Simons

76'

End-to-end

Leipzig give up possession and Blaswich is suddenly back-pedalling as a looping shot heads towards his area. The goalkeeper tidies up handily enough and switches play to the opposite end, where Openda wellies over from Schlager's cut-back.

74'

Dovedan on

Heidenheim bring Austrian midfielder Nikola Dovedan on to make his eighth Bundesliga appearance this term.

74'

Substitution

Nikola Dovedan

Marvin Pieringer

73'

Forsberg being readied

Heidenheim are still waiting to have their first shot on target in this second half. Leipzig, meanwhile, are preparing Emil Forsberg to come on.

68'

Double swap

Frank Schmidt introduces Kevin Sessa and Adrian Beck into proceedings as the away side look to force an equaliser.

68'

Substitution

Adrian Beck

Lennard Maloney

68'

Substitution

Kevin Sessa

Norman Theuerkauf

RBL frustration

Leipzig's fans are doing their best to push their side towards what could be a crucial third goal. The game has become very stop-start in the past ten minutes, however, which is suiting Heidenheim.

60'

Double booking

Things are kicking off a bit after Pieringer downs Simakan. Following a bit of afters between the two, the referee flashes a couple of yellow cards.

60'

Yellow card

Mohamed Simakan

59'

Yellow card

Marvin Pieringer

56'

Next goal key?

xGoals

The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).

Stats say it should be Leipzig but Heidenheim are a real danger here. Difficult to call.

xGoals

3.2

0.97

Goals

53'

Schlager off target

Xavi plays Schlager through and the midfielder is suddenly in on the left with options square. He goes for goal instead and slams a rising shot into the side netting.

47'

RBL onslaught

Somehow Heidenheim survive one more Leipzig attack. Baumgartner, Openda and then Poulsen all have pops at the target but a combination of some last gasp defending and goalkeeper Müller keep the hosts out.

46'

Off we go again!

Leipzig kick off the second half.

Kick-off!

Half-time

45'

+ 2

Half-time: Leipzig 2-1 Heidenheim

The hosts really should be out of sight here, but a late Benedikt Gimber goal has kept Heidenheim in touch after Loïs Openda and Yussuf Poulsen had Leipzig cruising at the Red Bull Arena.

45'

+ 2

Visitors have hope

Amazing. Heidenheim have been under so much pressure here yet they go in at the break only a goal behind after Beste's corner is flicked on and Gimber prods in from close range!

45'

+ 2

Benedikt Gimber

GOAL!

2:1

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

73 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

4.54 m

45'

So close FCH!

Suddenly Heidenheim are in! Schöppner waltzes through and gets into position for a shot. His effort is blocked wide and the hosts have a let off.

44'

Leipzig double up

The hosts have a second. Simakan's long pass from midfield lands at the feet of Raum. The full back battles through two Heidenheim defenders before crossing to the near post, where Polusen taps in.

44'

Yussuf Poulsen

GOAL!

2:0

Goal probability

44 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

6.27 m

39'

FCH's penalty woe

Not a great stat for Frank Schmidt to swallow: his Heidenheim side have conceded eight penalties in the Bundesliga this season, more than any other team.

37'

Busy Openda

Loïs Openda has been busy in this game. The 23-year-old Belgium international has been here, there and everywhere in the attacking third, firing at will whenever he sees an opportunity while also teeing up teammate Poulsen when the chance arises. The game's only goalscorer is the star man so far, no doubt.

Shots

Loïs Openda Marvin Pieringer

32'

Heidenheim claim

Heidenheim attack and the ball nicks off Klostermann's elbow inside the home area. Visiting hands shoot up into the air as all eyes focus on the ref. Klostermann had his back to the ball there, meaning that was never getting given. On we go ...

30'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes

Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.

Ikoma Loïs Openda32.99km/h

Jan-Niklas Beste32.16km/h

David Raum31.18km/h

29'

Leipzig in front

Openda slams home from the penalty spot - his tenth Bundesliga goal of the season - and Leipzig take a deserved lead in a half they have dominated thus far.

29'

Loïs Openda

GOAL!

1:0

Goal probability

77 %

Shot speed

Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.

96.29 km/h

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11 m

28'

Penalty Leipzig

Openda is double-teamed inside the Heidenheim box and the referee points to the spot.

26'

Leipzig expect

xGoals

At the moment, it's not a case of if Leipzig score, but when ...

xGoals

1.09

0.12

Goals

23'

Hosts come again

Poulsen plays Openda in on the right and the latter smashes wide of the far post from a tight angle. The RBL shot clock increases.

Goal attempts

7off target

2on target

1off target

0on target

Fascinating game

Leipzig are dominating here but Heidenheim have shown they are capable of breaking and creating. The hosts know they need to be wary of that threat as they go in search of the opener.

16'

Poulsen foiled again

Openda and Poulsen combine yet again but that man Müller is on hand to block the Leipzig No. 9's shot. A familiar theme developing here at the Red Bull arena.

13'

Heidenheim chance!

Suddenly the visitors are in and it's Marvin Pieringer who is completely unmarked in the centre and heads a cross from the left off target. That was a big opportunity for the away side.

10'

Home dominance

It's all Leipzig in these early stages. Müller pulls off another save, this time two-handed down at his near post, to deny Openda.

Possession (%)

6832

Poulsen off target

Poulsen is leaning back as he tries to nod in a deep cross from the right. His header flies wide.

Müller rescues FCH

Heidenheim goalkeeper Kevin Müller makes a fabulous, diving, one-handed save to keep his side on terms. Another lovely build-up from Leipzig saw Openda reach the end-line before cutting back to Poulsen. The forward struck first time but was denied superbly by Müller.

First chance!

Leipzig attack from the off. Raum does brilliantly to hook a cross into the box from the left, which bounces up in front of Openda. The striker smacks a shot on the half-volley over the crossbar.

Game on!

The action is underway at a very chilly Red Bull Arena!

Kick-off!

0:11

0:06

0:12

FCH in need of a lift

For their part, Heidenheim could also do with a result here, the visitors having won just one of their last six in the Bundesliga. That sole victory coming against high-flying Stuttgart, however, will give Frank Schmidt's side confidence at the Red Bull Arena today.

Important game

Today's game is an important one for the hosts. Although safely through to the Champions League knockouts, Die Roten Bullen have lost four of their last six in all competitions and they find themselves 11 points off league leaders Bayer Leverkusen as well as being out of the DFB Cup. Sitting in fifth, things are by no means catastrophic, but today's encounter does have a pivotal feel to it for Marco Rose's side.

Experience to count?

Given that this is Heidenheim's first season in the Bundesliga, it's understandable that Leipzig's XI here have a lot more experience in the German top flight. For example, RBL's side can boast a combined total of 1034 games and 121 goals compared to Heidenheim's combined 168 Bundesliga appearances and 14 goals.

Team news

Marco Rose opts for three changes to his starting XI compared to the side that began the midweek European game against Manchester City, although to the relief of Leipzig fans, Xavi is not one of those, the 20-year-old having been passed fit to play here. Lukeba, Seiwald and Forsberg drop to the bench with Henrichs, Baumgartner and Poulsen all in from the get-go. The visitors, meanwhile, bring Pieringer and Theuerkauf into the fold while Eren Dinkçi is suspended.

Heidenheim subs

Eicher, Busch, Siersleben, Sessa, Pick, Dovedan, Beck, Schimmer, Thomalla

Heidenheim starting XI

Müller - Traoré, Mainka (c), Gimber, Föhrenbach - Maloney - Pieringer, Schöppner, Theuerkauf, Beste - Kleindienst

Leipzig subs

Gulácsi, Lenz, Castello, Forsberg, Seiwald, Carvalho, Moriba, Kampl, Šeško

Leipzig starting XI

Blaswich - Henrichs, Simakan, Klostermann, Raum - Xavi, Schlager, Haidara, Baumgartner - Openda, Poulsen (c)

Rose's view on Heidenheim

"They're among the teams that cover more distance than any other in the Bundesliga. We have to be prepared. I think it's great when supposedly smaller clubs make a name for themselves. Heidenheim have a great story and have developed well as a club. They've persevered in difficult phases and have remained loyal to coach Frank Schmidt."

2:46

Watch and vote for November’s Goal of the Month!

Schmidt's view on Leipzig

“The scenario for Leipzig against Manchester City is roughly the same as the scenario for us in Leipzig. And that's why possession will change again for Leipzig, they'll have the ball more and we'll have to work hard in defence. They're incredibly good at transitioning and put in a lot of sprints, playing through the centre at great pace after winning the ball. They press and counter-press very intensively and are often set up to attack in a 4-2-4. But they also change their basic formation from time to time, which means we won't get much time. We'll also have a bit of stress when in possession. We'll need to have a good think and come up with an idea of how we can get into the opposition's half. But it'll be another game, whether we like it or not, where we'll primarily have to work hard in defence."

Leipzig relief after Xavi injury scare

A scan after Leipzig's 2-3 Champions League defeat at Manchester City on Tuesday showed Xavi has not picked up a serious shoulder injury, as feared. The mercurial playmaker - who has four goals and seven assists already this season - is a doubt for the tie against Heidenheim though.

Heidenheim hunting first away win

The newly promoted side are yet to land a win on the road this season. It hasn't been all bad away though, as they scored two goals in both Dortmund (taking a 2-2 draw) and Munich (beaten 2-4 by Bayern).

Red Bull fortress

Leipzig are unbeaten in 10 home matches in the Bundesliga, winning eight, dating back to a 3-0 loss to Mainz on 1 April.

Probable line-ups

Who’s set to play this weekend? Who’s going to miss out? Keep up to date with all the latest team news right here!

Another Bundesliga first involving Heidenheim

Leipzig vs. Heidenheim is the 954th pairing of the Bundesliga era. They've met four times in Bundesliga 2, and twice in 3. Liga, with two wins for Leipzig, one for Heidenheim and three draws.

2:03

Watch: Wolfsburg 2-1 Leipzig - highlights

Leipzig dropped out of the top four after losing in Wolfsburg. It was their second defeat in three league games, and leaves them 11 points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen.

2:03

Watch: Heidenheim 0-0 Bochum - highlights

Heidenheim collected their 11th point of the season on Matchday 12. The Bundesliga new boys have a three-point cushion on the bottom three, but have won just one of their last six top-flight fixtures.

Hello and welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 13 fixture between Leipzig and Heidenheim.