Sport

Olise's 100th-minute equaliser salvages 3-3 draw for Bayern against Heidenheim

Bayern Munich needed a deflected shot in the 10th minute of stoppage time to avoid a shock home defeat to the Bundesliga's last-placed side ahead of their Champions League semifinal second leg against PSG.

6 min
Olise's 100th-minute equaliser salvages 3-3 draw for Bayern against Heidenheim
Bayern Munich needed a deflected shot in the 10th minute of stoppage time to avoid a shock home defeat to the BundesligaCredit · WELT

Key facts

  • Bayern Munich drew 3-3 with Heidenheim at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.
  • Michael Olise scored the equaliser in the 100th minute after his shot hit the post and bounced off goalkeeper Diant Ramaj's back into the net.
  • Leon Goretzka scored twice for Bayern, including a direct free-kick, and was named Man of the Match with 52% of the vote.
  • Heidenheim's Budu Zivzivadze scored twice, and Eren Dinkçi also found the net for the visitors.
  • Bayern made seven changes from the team that lost 5-4 to PSG in the Champions League semifinal first leg on Tuesday.
  • The draw leaves Heidenheim on the verge of relegation from the Bundesliga.
  • The match was Heidenheim's 100th in the Bundesliga; Patrick Mainka has played every minute of those games.
  • Bayern's xGoals were 1.85 compared to Heidenheim's 2.54.

A frantic finale at the Allianz Arena

Bayern Munich escaped with a 3-3 draw against last-placed Heidenheim on Saturday, thanks to a bizarre equaliser in the 10th minute of stoppage time. Michael Olise's shot from the edge of the area struck the post, then bounced off the back of Heidenheim goalkeeper Diant Ramaj and trickled over the line. The goal came with the last kick of the game, denying Heidenheim a famous victory that would have boosted their slim hopes of Bundesliga survival. The result was a blow to Heidenheim, who had led three times during the match. For Bayern, it was a performance that raised serious questions ahead of the second leg of their Champions League semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. The German champions have now trailed at halftime in three consecutive games, including the 5-4 loss to PSG in the first leg and a 4-3 comeback win at Mainz last weekend.

Heidenheim's early dominance and Bayern's sluggish start

Bayern dominated possession in the opening exchanges, but it was Heidenheim who struck first. Midway through the first half, Marnon Busch played a lofted ball back into the penalty area following a corner, and Budu Zivzivadze, left unmarked, flicked the ball past Jonas Urbig from close range. Nine minutes later, Heidenheim doubled their lead when Busch played a perfectly weighted through ball for Eren Dinkçi, who rounded Urbig and tapped into an empty net. Bayern struggled to break down Heidenheim's well-organised defence until the 43rd minute, when Jamal Musiala was fouled by Niklas Dorsch in a dangerous position. Leon Goretzka stepped up and curled a superb direct free-kick over the wall and into the top corner from around 25 metres to reduce the deficit. Musiala went close to an equaliser moments later, but his shot flew just wide as the half ended with Heidenheim 2-1 ahead.

Kompany's quadruple substitution turns the tide

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany responded to the half-time deficit by making four substitutions, bringing on Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Luis Díaz and Joshua Kimmich. The changes immediately injected greater intensity into Bayern's play. In the 55th minute, Ramaj denied Jackson with a fine save, and Busch cleared off the line to prevent Minjae Kim from scoring. Goretzka then equalised shortly before the hour mark, bundling the ball over the line from close range after Olise's corner had found him at the back post. Kimmich struck the right post from distance, and Urbig produced a crucial save to deny Dinkçi from close range. However, Heidenheim restored their lead with a little under 15 minutes left when Zivzivadze drove forward on the left flank, beat Olise and curled a fine finish into the top corner to make it 3-2. Olise struck the crossbar from a corner in the 83rd minute as Bayern pushed desperately for an equaliser.

A dramatic injury-time twist

A lengthy stoppage in injury time followed an injury to Heidenheim's Jonas Föhrenbach, who returned to the pitch with a heavily bandaged nose, underlining how desperate the visitors were to hold on to the points. In the 100th minute, Olise's shot from the edge of the area struck the post, bounced back off the back of goalkeeper Ramaj and trickled over the line to earn Bayern a share of the spoils. The goal had a lowest goal probability of 3 percent. "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."

Goretzka's standout performance and the numbers behind the draw

Leon Goretzka was the standout performer on the afternoon, earning the Man of the Match award with 52 per cent of the vote. The midfielder scored twice, first with a superb direct free-kick and then with a close-range finish to level the scores. He also led all players with six shots during the match, and his two efforts ultimately proved crucial in preventing what would have been a disappointing home defeat for the champions. Bayern's expected goals (xG) were 1.85 compared to Heidenheim's 2.54, reflecting the visitors' greater quality of chances. The fastest player on the pitch was Bayern's Josip Stanišić, who reached 35.16 km/h. Michael Olise was the most pressed player, with 27 times under pressure, while Jonathan Tah recorded a pass efficiency of +4.99.

Relegation fears deepen for Heidenheim

The draw leaves Heidenheim on the verge of relegation from the Bundesliga. The match was the club's 100th in the top flight, and Patrick Mainka has played every single minute of those games. Heidenheim needed points to keep their survival hopes alive, and they came agonisingly close to a victory that would have been a massive boost. Instead, they must now rely on other results going their way and hope to pick up points in their remaining fixtures. For Bayern, the focus now shifts entirely to the Champions League. The German champions trail 5-4 on aggregate after the first leg in Paris, and they will need a much-improved performance to overcome PSG and reach the final. Kompany's decision to rest key players for the Heidenheim match suggests he is prioritising the European tie, but the disjointed display will give him plenty to ponder.

Bayern's defensive fragility and the looming PSG test

Bayern have now trailed at halftime in three straight games, a worrying trend for a team of their stature. The 5-4 loss to PSG exposed defensive vulnerabilities, and Heidenheim's three goals further highlighted the issues. Kompany made seven changes to the team that started against PSG, with Manuel Neuer, Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise, Luis Díaz and Harry Kane all on the substitutes' bench initially. While the changes were intended to keep players fresh, they also disrupted the team's rhythm. Kompany will need to find a solution quickly. PSG's attacking firepower, led by Kylian Mbappé, will pose a severe test for Bayern's backline. The German champions will also need to be more clinical in front of goal, having squandered several chances against Heidenheim. The draw may have salvaged a point, but it did little to inspire confidence ahead of the biggest game of the season so far.

The bottom line

  • Bayern Munich's 3-3 draw with last-placed Heidenheim was secured by a 100th-minute equaliser from Michael Olise, whose shot deflected off the goalkeeper's back.
  • Leon Goretzka scored twice, including a free-kick, and was named Man of the Match, but Bayern's performance was disjointed and defensively fragile.
  • Heidenheim led three times through goals from Budu Zivzivadze (2) and Eren Dinkçi, but could not hold on for a vital win in their relegation battle.
  • Bayern have now trailed at halftime in three consecutive matches, raising concerns ahead of the Champions League semifinal second leg against PSG.
  • Vincent Kompany made seven changes to the starting lineup, prioritising the PSG tie, but the gamble nearly backfired.
  • Heidenheim remain on the verge of relegation, while Bayern must improve significantly to overturn a 5-4 aggregate deficit against PSG.
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