FCH Heidenheim Heidenheim - FCB Bayern FC Bayern München

Sun, 21.12.202516:30 PM

Voith-Arena

Jackson not involved

As well as captain Manuel Neuer, Bayern also know they will play this final game of 2025 without Nicolas Jackson. The Chelsea loanee is in action at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, who begin their campaign in Morocco against Botswana on Tuesday.

Big lead

Bayern boast a nine-point lead over their closest rivals at the top of the table, the second-biggest margin ever at this stage of a season. In 2012/13, the Bavarian giants held a 10-point lead.

Incredible stat

Bayern have now been on top of the Bundesliga standings for an entire calendar year, a top-flight first. In fact, the last team to top the table that wasn't Bayern was ... Heidenheim! After Matchday 2 of the 2024/25 season, Frank Schmidt's team led the Bundesliga standings for the only time in the club's history.

Contrasting fortunes

Conversely, things haven't gone quite so well in the Bundesliga over the past 12 months for Heidenheim. Frank Schmidt's side only managed to win 30 points from 33 matches, celebrating eight victories and scoring 32 goals.

Almost unstoppable

Since last January, Bayern have earned 21 points more than any other Bundesliga team in 33 matches. The record champions' only top-flight defeat this year came in March at home against Bochum.

Last hurrah!

Heidenheim versus Bayern on Sunday will be the 306th and final Bundesliga match of the year! The winter break is almost upon us.

2:03

Watch: Heidenheim 0-4 Bayern - previous meeting

Bayern put four goals past Heidenheim at home (4-2) and away (4-0) last season. The record champions also won by the same 4-2 scoreline in Munich in 2023/24, before falling to a shock 3-2 loss at the Voith-Arena, in a game they led 2-0 at half-time.

2:03

Watch: St. Pauli 2-1 Heidenheim - highlights

After last-gasp wins over Union Berlin and Freiburg, Heidenheim couldn't repeat the trick in their relegation six-pointer with St. Pauli. Frank Schmidt's side ended the weekend back in the automatic drop zone, outside the relegation play-off spot on goal difference and two points adrift of outright safety.

2:03

Watch: Bayern 2-2 Mainz - highlights

Bayern needed a late Harry Kane penalty to preserve their unbeaten start to the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign against rock-bottom Mainz a week ago. It was only the second time this season points have been dropped by the defending Bundesliga champions, who are some nine points clear of the chasing pack.

Hello and welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 15 fixture between 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 and FC Bayern München.

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