bundesliga

Heidenheim stun Bayern Munich to put Bayer Leverkusen on the brink of the title

07.04.2024

Heidenheim came from 2-0 down to beat Bayern Munich and leave Bayer Leverkusen on the brink of being crowned Bundesliga champions.

Heidenheim 3-2 Bayern Munich
Goals: 0-1 Kane 38' (assist: Gnabry), 0-2 Gnabry 45' (assist: Davies), 2-1 Sessa 50' (assist: Pieringer), 2-2 Kleindienst 51' (assist: Beste), 3-2 Kleindienst 80' (assist: Pieringer)

Beaten by Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker last weekend and 13 points behind unbeaten Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen as a result, Bayern had a point to prove at the Voith-Arena. The defending champions duly dominated possession from the get-go, but were largely frustated for the first half hour or so, with their best chance a Serge Gnabry cross that was just inches from being turned in by Thomas Müller at the far post. Gnabry was the architect when they did break the deadlock, Harry Kane supplying the finish to the returning Bayern winger's inch-perfect delivery for his 32nd Bundesliga goal. Gnabry then had the easiest task of heading home unmarked from Alphonso Davies for 2-0.

Heidenheim fans must have feared the worst, but they were treated to the unexpected in a quite remarkable start to the second half. Dayot Upamecano was caught out by goalkeeper Kevin Müller's long punt, allowing Kevin Sessa - one of three half-time substitutes by the home side - to power into the box and finish past Sven Ulreich. Heidenheim were level 86 seconds later as Tim Kleindienst took advantage of more uncertainty in the Bayern defence to fire in Jan-Niklas Beste's asking cross. The Bayern bear suitably poked, Heidenheim were indebted to Müller for keeping out Kane and substitute Mathys Tel. The hosts responded in kind as Ulreich clawed away a Sessa header and Beste whipped a free-kick narrowly over, before Kleindienst struck to complete a quite extraordinary comeback. If Leverkusen win at home to Werder Bremen next week, Bayern's 11-year reign as champions will be over.

Watch: Tim Kleindienst on 'historic' Heidenheim win over Bayern

Match stats

Heidenheim had lost their previous two competitive meetings with Bayern.
Kleindienst has a team-leading 11 goals. He also scored in the reverse fixture.
Heidenheim have earned 22 of their 33 points from home games, where they have a record of six wins, four draws and four defeats.
The top-flight newcomers have played in a league-low 28 Bundesliga fixtures; Bayern a league-leading 2,004.
Müller made his 700th competitive appearance for the Bayern first team. Among players past or present, only Sepp Maier has made more (707).
Bayern have suffered six defeats in the Bundesliga this season, including five in the Rückrunde. The last time they posted more single-season losses was in 2011/12 (seven) - the last time they did not win the title.

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Watch: Thomas Tuchel baffled by Bayern 'collapse' in Heidenheim

Line-ups

Heidenheim: Müller - Traoré, Mainka (c), Gimber, Föhrenbach (Busch 46') - Schöppner (Sessa 46'), Beck (Pieringer 46'), Maloney - Dinkçi (Pick 90'+3), Beste (Thomalla 76') - Kleindienst
Unused subs: Eicher, Siersleben, Schimmer, Kühlwetter
Out: Dovedan (suspended), Keller (knee), Theuerkauf (ill), Qenaj (knee)
Coach: Frank Schmidt

Bayern: Ulreich - Kimmich, Upamecano, Kim, Davies - Laimer, Goretzka (Zaragoza 83') - Gnabry (Tel 67'), Müller (c) (Guerreiro 84'), Musiala (Choupo-Moting 76') - Kane
Unsued subs: Peretz, de Ligt, Dier
Out: Boey (muscular), Buchmann (thigh), Coman (muscular), Mazraoui (muscular), Neuer (groin), Pavlović (ill), Sané (pelvis), Sarr (knee)
Coach: Thomas Tuchel