Heidenheim breathed life into their survival hopes with a gritty 1-0 win away at Stuttgart, ending a three-game losing streak ahead of this clash. Despite holding the Bundesliga’s worst home record (W3, D1, L11), Heidenheim’s recent uptick in form, including two home wins in their last five, suggests they’re peaking at a good moment. A draw or win here would keep them in the relegation play-off spot with two games to go, and with momentum on their side, that looks realistic.

Bochum, by contrast, sit bottom of the table and face near-certain relegation unless they pull off a rare away win - something they’ve managed only twice all season (D2, L11). Only one Bundesliga team this century has started matchday 32 bottom of the table and survived the drop. Take Heidenheim to avoid defeat here.

With two of the worst defences in the division, expect at least a couple of goals here. 80% of Heidenheim’s home games and 80% of Bochum’s away fixtures have seen 2+ goals, reflecting consistent vulnerability at both ends. Both teams' desperation for points with relegation threat looming suggests this will be a match played on the front foot, we could see plenty of goals with two poor defences on show.

Averaging 2.51 shots and 0.9 shots on target per 90, Pieringer is consistently active in front of goal. While he's failed to hit the target in his last three (games in which Heidenheim managed just 2, 3, and 1 total SOTs), this was more symptomatic of team struggles than personal output - Heidenheim face a much easier task here against bottom of the league. Prior to that, Pieringer hit the target in five consecutive starts, he can hit the target again here.

The only Bochum player to score in both of their away wins this season, Sissoko has shown attacking intent when needed. While his season average of 0.86 shots per 90 is modest, he’s attempted seven shots in his last six games, as well as one in the reverse fixture, suggesting a willingness to take on attacking responsibility. He struck three shots against Augsburg a couple of weeks back.