DFB-Pokal - the FC Heidenheim v Eintracht preview

The last competitive match in 2017 will see the Eagles travel to Heidenheim for the DFB-Pokal round of the last 16.

FC Heidenheim - Eintracht Frankfurt

Kick-off: Wednesday (20 December 2017), 20.45 CET
Venue: Voith-Arena, Heidenheim
Referee: Sven Jablonski (4 Bundesliga games, 28 Bundesliga 2 games)

Build-Up

The DFB-Pokal round of the last 16 clash will be the very first encounter of Heidenheim and Eintracht in a competitive match. FCH are 15th in Bundesliga 2 after 18 matchdays (15 points), they drew 1-1 with Erzgebirge Aue last weekend. The Eagles played an impressive first season half and are in spot 8 on 26 points; they suffered a last minute equalizer against Schalke on Saturday (final score 2-2).

It is the second time for the Bundesliga 2 side to proceed that far in the competition. 2015/16 they proceeded to the quarter finals in which they were eliminated by Hertha. FCH managed to beat a Bundesliga team only once (in seven cup games) when the won against Werder Bremen 2-1 in 2011/12. This year they so far went past third divisdion team SpVgg Unterhaching (4-0) and fellow Bundesliga 2 side Jahn Regensburg (5-2).

The Eagles have not yet conceded a goal in th running cup campaign beating TuS Erndtebrück 3-0 and 1. FC Schweinfurt 4-0. They suffered only one DFB-Pokal defeat under the reign of Niko Kovac so far which was in the cup final last year against Borussia Dortmund (2-1).

Eintracht striker Sebastien Haller was involved in five of SGE's seven goals in the cup (3 goals, 2 assists). Heidenheim's Marcel Titsch-Rivero left the Eagles in 2012 for FCH, Frankfurt born Rivero has two Bundesliga appearances for SGE. In his final match he was red-carded only 43 seconds after coming on as a substitute which remains the fastest dismissal in Bundesliga history.

Live Match Center

We will provide you with pre-match and live updates via the English language Live Match Center - line-ups, live text commentary, scores and tweets will be available from kick-off onwards.

Social Media

We will also cover the match on our English Twitter channel with pics and tweets from the ground. Additionally, our English Facebook site will contain live info. The hashtags are: #SGE and #FCHSGE.