Bayern Munich snatch stoppage-time draw with Heidenheim before PSG clash

Key facts

• Bayern Munich drew 3-3 with last-place Heidenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
• Michael Olise's shot hit the post and bounced off goalkeeper Diant Ramaj's back for the equalizer in the 10th minute of stoppage time.
• Vincent Kompany made seven changes from the team that lost 5-4 to PSG in the Champions League semifinal first leg.
• Budu Zivzivadze scored twice for Heidenheim, with Eren Dinkci also on target.
• Leon Goretzka scored twice for Bayern, including a free kick and a second-half equalizer.
• The draw leaves Heidenheim on the verge of relegation.
• Bayern trails 5-4 on aggregate ahead of the second leg against PSG on Tuesday.

A frantic finale masks a disjointed performance

Bayern Munich escaped with a 3-3 draw against Bundesliga basement side Heidenheim on Saturday, thanks to a bizarre stoppage-time equalizer that deflected off the goalkeeper's back. The result, secured with the last kick of the game, did little to inspire confidence ahead of Tuesday's Champions League semifinal second leg against Paris Saint-Germain. Vincent Kompany's side produced a disjointed display, falling behind twice before clawing back. The coach acknowledged the team's shortcomings but praised their resilience. "It was the mentality, the belief," Kompany said. "Of course, we can do many things better, but we must not forget that the lads gave everything in the end to avoid losing the game. We have to take that with us into the next match."

Kompany rings the changes with an eye on PSG

Kompany made seven alterations to the starting lineup that lost 5-4 to PSG in midweek, resting key players including Manuel Neuer, Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise, Luis Díaz, and Harry Kane. The wholesale changes disrupted Bayern's rhythm, and Heidenheim capitalized. Budu Zivzivadze opened the scoring for the visitors, and Eren Dinkci doubled the lead before Leon Goretzka pulled one back with a free kick before halftime. Kompany introduced Kane, Díaz, Olise, and Kimmich for the second half, and Goretzka leveled in the 57th minute. But Zivzivadze struck again in the 76th to restore Heidenheim's lead, setting up a frantic finale.

A remarkable equalizer in the 100th minute

With five minutes of stoppage time initially added, Bayern pushed forward. In the 10th minute of added time, Olise's shot from the edge of the area struck the post and rebounded off the diving Heidenheim goalkeeper Diant Ramaj, crossing the line for an own goal. The goal was confirmed after a lengthy stoppage for a head injury earlier in the half. The equalizer was Bayern's third consecutive game trailing at halftime, following a 5-4 loss to PSG and a 4-3 win at Mainz where they faced a three-goal deficit. The pattern of slow starts and frantic comebacks has become a worrying trend for Kompany's side.

Heidenheim left on the brink of relegation

For Heidenheim, the draw was a missed opportunity. The point leaves them rooted to the bottom of the Bundesliga table, on the verge of relegation with two rounds remaining. Zivzivadze's double gave them hope of a famous victory, but the late equalizer dashed their chances of a vital three points. The club's fight for survival contrasts sharply with Bayern's Champions League ambitions. While Heidenheim face an uphill battle to stay in the top flight, Bayern must overturn a one-goal deficit against PSG on Tuesday to keep their European hopes alive.

Wider Bundesliga implications and a historic milestone

Elsewhere in the Bundesliga, Union Berlin fought back to draw 2-2 with Cologne, earning their first point under Marie-Louise Eta, the first female head coach in the league's history. Tom Rothe and Livan Burcu scored after Union trailed 2-0, with Eta praising her players: "The guys left their hearts on the field." The draw kept Union a point above Cologne and likely enough for survival. Bayer Leverkusen moved fourth with a 4-1 win over Leipzig, powered by a Patrick Schick hat trick. Schick has scored 16 goals this season, six in his last three games, lifting Leverkusen above Stuttgart and Hoffenheim on goal difference. All three have 58 points, behind Leipzig on 62, with only the top four securing Champions League qualification.

The looming challenge against PSG

Bayern's focus now shifts entirely to Tuesday's Champions League semifinal second leg at the Allianz Arena. Trailing 5-4 from the first leg, they need a victory to advance. Kompany's decision to rest key players suggests he is prioritizing the European tie, but the disjointed performance against Heidenheim raises questions about the team's cohesion. The coach will likely revert to his strongest lineup, but the defensive frailties exposed by Heidenheim will be a concern against a PSG side that scored five times in the first leg. Bayern must balance the need to attack with the risk of conceding away goals, as PSG hold the advantage on aggregate.

A test of character and tactical acumen

The draw with Heidenheim was a reminder that even the Bundesliga champions can struggle against determined opposition. Kompany's substitutions and tactical adjustments ultimately salvaged a point, but the performance lacked the control and precision expected of a team with Champions League aspirations. As Bayern prepare for PSG, the question is whether they can channel the fighting spirit shown in stoppage time into a complete 90-minute performance. The season's defining moment awaits, and the margin for error is razor-thin.

The bottom line

• Bayern Munich's 3-3 draw with last-place Heidenheim was secured by a stoppage-time own goal off goalkeeper Diant Ramaj's back.
• Vincent Kompany rested seven starters ahead of the Champions League semifinal second leg against PSG, leading to a disjointed display.
• Leon Goretzka scored twice for Bayern, including a free kick, while Budu Zivzivadze scored twice for Heidenheim.
• Heidenheim remain on the verge of relegation with two Bundesliga rounds left.
• Bayern trail PSG 5-4 on aggregate heading into Tuesday's second leg at the Allianz Arena.
• Union Berlin earned their first point under female head coach Marie-Louise Eta, keeping survival hopes alive.