As of: December 7th, 2024 6:38 p.m
Huge dominance, but only a narrow victory: FC Bayern Munich was able to celebrate again in the Bundesliga after being eliminated from the DFB Cup, but 1. FC Heidenheim had a sniff of winning a point.
Despite over 80 percent possession of the ball, the record champions only won 4:2 (1:0), the goals were scored by Dayot Upamecano (18th minute), Jamal Musiala (56th/90th+1) and Leon Goretzka (84th). With a mistake, Upamecano allowed Mathias Honsak to equalize (50′), Leo Scienza scored the final score (85′).
During the week, FC Bayern had to give up its first chance to win the DFB Cup title (0-1 against Bayer Leverkusen) and now it has returned to the competition, where this opportunity is most present. Even before the game against Heidenheim, it was clear that the record champions would remain at the top of the table – but they immediately started planning to stay there with a comfortable lead.
Frank Schmidt, coach of 1. FC Heidenheim, explained on the Sportschau microphone: “The team tried everything, but overall it was very difficult for us.” Bayern player Thomas Müller said: “We helped a little with the goals we conceded.”
From the 12th minute onwards, the Heidenheim goal was under constant fire
From the first minute, the guests didn’t really have a chance. Bayern had the ball and let their opponents run. Once he had the ball, the Munich team blackmailed it back again after a very short time. Heidenheim withstood this constant pressure for around ten minutes – but then the Bavarian target shooting started.
Kevin Müller was able to parry Thomas Müller’s first shot (12th). Afterwards, Leroy Sané showed in a promising position that heading the ball is not his specialty (14th), but his lob in front of Müller shortly afterwards also did not have the necessary precision (15th).
Raphael Guerreiro had the next opportunity from close range, but his shot was blocked at the last moment (18th). In this case, however, it wasn’t a problem for Bayern, because Joshua Kimmich placed the following corner precisely to Upamecano, who was blocked by Müller, who nodded in completely free-standing – the 1-0 (18th).
FC Bayern ended the first half with 86 percent possession
As a result, the Munich team didn’t really go for the second goal, but they continued to wear down their opponents with endless ball relays. Every now and then there were one or two pinpricks in the penalty area, for example Alphonso Davies only hit the outside post after a one-two with Guerreiro (39th).
The Heidenheimers must have been happy when they were finally allowed to take the half-time break. Because their overpowering opponents didn’t give them the slightest chance of being allowed to play football themselves. Bayern had 86 percent of ball possession, 11:0 shots on goal, won almost 60 percent of the duels – but the low expected goals value of 1.22 showed that coach Vincent Kompany’s team relied more on control than on scoring goals quickly.
Upamecano dropout calls Musiala into action
After the break we continued towards the Heidenheim goal, but Aleksandar Pavlovic narrowly missed it from ten meters (50′). But then a faux pas from Upamecano ensured that the guests were suddenly back in the middle of the game. Honsak made a completely botched back pass, which went around Neuer representative Daniel Peretz and slotted it into the empty goal (50th).
And yet Heidenheim had no chance – because Kompany then pulled his noble joker. The FCB coach rested Musiala but brought him into the game shortly after the equalizer. And just five minutes later, the exceptional talent was celebrating after he sank the ball from 16 meters into the near corner (56th). The 2-1 was Musiala’s seventh goal of the season.
Goretzka scores, but Scienza counters
Bayern then failed to quickly secure the decision. Michael Olise missed a shot against Müller (62′), then the FCH goalkeeper parried against Musiala, after which Sané waited far too long to put the follow-up shot into the empty goal – instead it was blocked (74′).
Ten minutes later the supposed decision was made. After a long-range shot, Goretzka was lucky that the ball was deflected unstoppably – the 3-1 for Bayern (84th). But Heidenheim didn’t give up the game yet, just a minute later Scienza brought the guests close again (85th). Musiala then eliminated the last doubts in stoppage time (90th + 1).
Munich in Mainz, Heidenheim against Stuttgart
Munich travels to Mainz next matchday (December 14th, 3:30 p.m.). Heidenheim welcomes Stuttgart to their home stadium (December 15th, 3:30 p.m.).
