Heidenheim is set to host NK Olimpija Ljubljana at Voith-Arena in their first Europa Conference League league phase match. The hosts advanced past Hacken in the playoff round, while the visitors made it through three qualifying rounds for the second consecutive season.
The Germans faced a tough challenge in the second leg against Hacken, falling 2-1 behind with only 10 minutes remaining. However, Paul Wanner managed to level the score with six minutes left, and Mathias Honsak sealed a 5-3 aggregate victory in injury time.
Heidenheim enters the game on the back of a solid start to their Bundesliga campaign, currently sitting sixth with nine points from their first five matches. They bounced back from two defeats with a 2-0 win over Mainz, thanks to goals from Marvin Pieringer and Jan Schoppner.
With confidence high, Heidenheim will aim to secure their first three points in the league phase with a strong performance at home against Olimpija Ljubljana. The Slovenian side finished third in the PrvaLiga last season and had to navigate through qualifying rounds to reach the main competition.
Currently leading their domestic league, Olimpija Ljubljana will look to continue their success in Europe as they face Heidenheim on Thursday.
In terms of team news, both sides will be eager to start their Europa Conference League campaigns on a positive note.
Image: Sirlord Conteh of Heidenheim against FC St. Pauli on August 25, 2024 [on August 27, 2024] © Imago
